tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11107634917468066402015-02-28T14:12:23.101-08:00The Green ProgressiveThis is an eco-political blog written for the sole purpose of participating in the conversation. It is a place to talk about most politics with a concentration on sustainability news and issues, state and local politics and progressive issues.Andrew Kornblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17006069193232411653noreply@blogger.comBlogger135125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110763491746806640.post-8311565746504624512015-02-28T11:42:00.002-08:002015-02-28T12:28:28.323-08:00The Trial of the Island PresidentWhile America and most of the world was concentrating on the Academy Awards and the speeches of famous actors, the star of the documentary the Island President was arrested under terrorism charges. The arrest of former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed came as a shock but not as a surprise to the climate activism community and to those who have been following the political birth pangs of the island nation off the tip of India.<br /><br />Nasheed, the country's first democratically elected president of the Maldives following more than 30 years of despotic totalitarianism was a climate change advocate and one of the loudest voices in the UN climate talks at Copenhagen. His fervor and urgency came from concern for his people, citing the fact that with long-term sea level rise the Maldives is set to disappear from the face of the Earth.<br /><br />A reformer, religious moderate and charismatic leader, Mohamed Nasheed was subject of the 2011 documentary <a href="http://theislandpresident.com/" target="_blank">the Island President</a>. &nbsp;The film depicted the heartbreaking efforts of the President to fight on the international level for action on climate change, being blocked by the United States and China. Five month's after the movie's release, internal forces caused Nasheed to withdraw from office, under dubious circumstances that some have claimed a coup.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ryhr_T7cRnY" width="500"></iframe><br /><br />Superficially, the spark that ignited the political unrest that ended Nasheed's Presidency surrounds the arrest and detainment of a Judge who was being investigated on corruption charges and had suspended officers investigating corruption in the government. The arrest was called illegal by the opposition party and became the impetus for protests by local police and religious hardliners in the country who were uncomfortable with some of Nasheed's interactions with non Muslims.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GSfYpFPi4RI/VPF7nWzAE7I/AAAAAAAARas/gu0iJUIBkwM/s1600/B-luc6UUcAEa66P.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GSfYpFPi4RI/VPF7nWzAE7I/AAAAAAAARas/gu0iJUIBkwM/s1600/B-luc6UUcAEa66P.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />The country seems divided on the issue of the arrest, with calls on Twitter to #FreeNasheed and from those that say #ISupportNasheedArrest. For the outside observer, this appears to be a domestic dispute that holds no bearing over our daily lives. To truly understand the situation, and why it is important, we need to dive into the full details.<br /><br /><h3>History of the Maldives</h3><div>The nation of 350,000 is made up of over 500 islands surrounded by coral in the Indian Ocean. It is destination spot of approximately <a href="http://tourism.gov.mv/statistics/arrival-updates/" target="_blank">100,000 tourists a month</a>&nbsp;who come for the fishing, diving, snorkeling and exotic <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g298325-d300676-Reviews-Conrad_Maldives_Rangali_Island-Rangali_Island.html" target="_blank">hotel hot spots</a>.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><iframe frameborder="0" height="450" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d255196.33995835338!2d73.5361034!3d1.9772469499999996!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x24b599bfaafb7bbd%3A0x414509e181956289!2sMaldives!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1424989327239" style="border: 0;" width="600"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>The island nation also boasts a tumultuous political history. The country has been briefly dominated by foreign powers in three separate occasions including the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British. In 1965 the Maldives gained independence from the British Empire and in 1968 became a republic ruled by an authoritarian government through a presidency and a "Constitutional Shari'ah" law which is still in place. These laws include Hudud punishments (ranging from exile to public lashing and death) for crimes like adultery, fornication, homosexuality, apostasy, and consuming intoxicants.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>For example, in February of 2013, the judiciary sentenced a fifteen-year-old girl to 100 lashes and house arrest for 8 months for premarital sex after her stepfather had raped her and killed their baby. He is still to face trial. After international attention was put on the situation, <a href="http://minivannews.com/politics/maldives-high-court-overturns-flogging-sentence-for-15-year-old-charged-with-fornication-63028" target="_blank">the High Courts overturned the ruling</a> but it is just one example of the current status of law in the Islamic country. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>In 1978, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom took power and over the next 30 years created a booming tourist economy (see above) at the expense of the freedoms and the equality of the Maldivians. During his three decades in power, President Gayoom systematically replaced leadership rolls throughout the government with family and friends. During that time he has been accused of being a "dictator" and authoritarian with policies including <a href="http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1854644,00.html" target="_blank">suppression</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://minivannews.com/news-in-brief/mp-moosa-manik-files-torture-complaint-against-former-president-gayoom-12524" target="_blank">torture</a><span id="goog_1741469366"></span><span id="goog_1741469367"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a>, and <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4560421.stm" target="_blank">unlawful detainment</a>.&nbsp;In 1997 the Special Majlis, a selected group of parliamentarians, <a href="http://www.maldivesroyalfamily.com/maldives_constitution.shtml" target="_blank">produced a new constitution that vastly expanded powers of the executive</a>. According to an <a href="http://www.refworld.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/rwmain?page=publisher&amp;publisher=AMNESTY&amp;type=&amp;coi=MDV&amp;docid=40b5a1fbc&amp;skip=0" target="_blank">Amnesty International report from 2003</a> "...there were severe restrictions on freedom of the press, and political parties were unable to function."</div><div><br /></div><div>It has also been reported that Gayoom misappropriated government funds and received kickbacks from local resort and tourism owners.&nbsp;</div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="http://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/index.php/movements-and-campaigns/movements-and-campaigns-summaries?sobi2Task=sobi2Details&amp;catid=3&amp;sobi2Id=35" target="_blank">Among Gayoom’s assets mentioned $9.5 million spent for a luxury yacht, $17 million to renovate the presidential plaice, as well as the purchase of 11 speed boats and 55 cars with government money.</a></blockquote><div>Amid growing international pressure in 2008 <a href="http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2008-10-29/news/28664225_1_maldivian-democratic-party-mohamed-anni-nasheed-abdul-gayoom" target="_blank">Gayoom finally allowed for open election</a>s for the president and lost %54 to 46% to a former political prisoner under his regime, Mohamed Nasheed. The 30 year President left office, but <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/08/opinion/in-the-maldives-strangled-democracy.html" target="_blank">the legacy of those he placed in office still lingered</a>&nbsp;including in his Judicial appointments.<br /><br /></div><h3>Mohamed Nasheed&nbsp;</h3><div>During Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's regime, Mohamed "Anni" Nasheed set up a magazine and published articles critical of the regime, reporting of corruption and brutality. Nasheed was promptly arrested. His imprisonment included torture and solitary confinement. This was just one of 16 separate times he was jailed and has spent a total of 6 years in work camps or prison. <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/02/2012278561137271.html" target="_blank">Amnesty International listed him as a "Prisoner of Conscience"</a>, before he fled into exile in 2003.</div><div><br /></div><div>In 2005, Nasheed returned to the Maldives and was promptly arrested that August, causing a civil uproar. In June of 2005 "Anni" was able to official register with political party, the MDP in the Maldives.</div><div><br /></div><div>After declaring a state of emergency, and attempting to deal with local civil unrest, President Gayoom buckled to international pressure to hold open elections, a divisive race was run where Gayoom's party accused Nasheed of spreading Christianity, a serious allegation in the Islamic nation via his links with foreign countries. His message of change coupled with a call for social and economic liberalism drew support behind him and he <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/oct/29/maldives-presidential-elections" target="_blank">became the first democratically elected leader of the island nation</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>During Nasheed's tenure, the country found itself in the center of democratic reforms including moving away from <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2012/01/04/world/asia/maldives-spas-ruling/index.html" target="_blank">strict sharia laws</a>, efforts to ban <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/world/female-circumcision-fear-as-fundamentalists-roll-back-womens-rights-20120124-1qflv.html" target="_blank">female genital mutilation</a>&nbsp;and <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2009/12/climates-superstar-mohammed-nasheed" target="_blank">climate activism</a>&nbsp;including being linked with the international organization 350.org. Nasheed gave an especially stirring speech on the subject stating;</div><blockquote class="tr_bq">But physics isn't politics. On climate change there are things on which we cannot negotiate…The most important number in the world. The most important number you'll ever hear. The most important number you'll ever say. These three words: Three-five-oh.</blockquote><div>In October of 2009, then President Nasheed drew international attention to sea level rise by holding a&nbsp;<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8311838.stm" target="_blank">cabinet meeting underwater</a>. The video of the scuba-clad colleagues deliberating the works of the state rang poignantly throughout the world and sounded a clarion call for action.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/G9Jm1x9ShIU" width="500"></iframe></div></div><div><br /></div><div>The charismatic and obviously driven Nasheed found himself the center of international attention and the subject of a widely distributed and respected documentary. The Island President tells the story of his fight for climate action during the international climate talks in Copenhagen and the anguishing process of international negotiation. In the film the Chinese delegation make it entirely clearn that they are against international monitoring of their emissions, arguing that it compromises their sovereignty. "It's simply madness of China and India not to take it up," says Nasheed in the film. "Just because the West has pumped so much poisonous gas into the atmosphere, that doesn't mean we have to do it again."&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Eventually in the film Nasheed compromises his efforts and his moral high ground, even posing with the Chinese delegation. Leaving Copenhagen, there is an agreement with nice language, but no enforcement and the audience is left grief-stricken the driven hero looks so dismayed.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Little did the film makers know that they were documenting the end of the President's time in office. In fact, the moment that the film was shown at the 2012 BLUE Ocean film festival in Monterey, the attendees and shocked audience were informed that Nasheed had been forcibly removed from office.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Following the detainment of a Supreme Court Judge, who had been appointed during the regime of Gayoom, on charges of corruption police protests broke out in the Maldives. As the result of rising protests, allegedly orchestrated by the opposition and Gayoom remnants, the Maldives President and climate change activist resigned "<a href="http://reason.com/blog/2012/02/07/maldives-president-and-climate-change-ad" target="_blank">under pressure</a>," and stated on a nationally televised address, "<a href="http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/story/2012-02-07/maldives-nasheed/52995696/1" target="_blank">I don't want to hurt any Maldivian. I feel my staying on in power will only increase the problems, and it will hurt our citizens. So the best option available to me is to step down</a>."</div><div><br /></div><div>In an <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/08/opinion/in-the-maldives-strangled-democracy.html" target="_blank">op-ed in the New York Times</a>, Nasheed wrote, "the former president’s supporters protested in the streets, and police officers and army personnel loyal to the old government mutinied and forced me, at gunpoint, to resign. To avoid bloodshed, I did so. I believe this to be a coup d’état and suspect that my vice president, who has since been sworn into office, helped to plan it."&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Mere hours after the Nasheed resigned office, the <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/judge-held-by-nasheed-released/article2871591.ece" target="_blank">Chief Justice of the Criminal Court was released from detention</a>.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Here are Nasheed's statements on a 2012 Daily Show appearance:</div><div><br /></div><div><div><div style="background-color: black; width: 520px;"><div style="padding: 4px;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="288" src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/embed/mgid:arc:video:thedailyshow.com:b65b7dda-5861-497a-ba9c-6817f1d1ace1" width="512"></iframe><br /><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 4px; padding: 4px; text-align: left;"><b><a href="http://thedailyshow.cc.com/">The Daily Show</a></b><br />Get More: <a href="http://thedailyshow.cc.com/full-episodes/">Daily Show Full Episodes</a>,<a href="http://www.comedycentral.com/indecision">Indecision Political Humor</a>,<a href="http://www.facebook.com/thedailyshow">The Daily Show on Facebook</a></div></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>2012 saw the start of an odd political and legal situation within the country. The new government, headed by former Vice-President, issued a <span id="goog_1741469393"></span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/apr/01/dictatorship-maldives-democracy" target="_blank">warrant for his arrest and threatened him with life imprisonment</a><span id="goog_1741469394"></span>. He was dragged from his home and <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/oct/08/maldives-mohamed-nasheed-arrested" target="_blank">peppersprayed by a group of riot-gear clad police</a>. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>In 2013, new elections were held where Nasheed actually won, but the results <a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/expresident-nasheed-wins-1st-round-in-maldives-election/1787181.html" target="_blank">were thrown out by the sitting Supreme Court</a>, including the Judge which had been being examined for corruption. A few months later, in a new election Nasheed won the most votes, which should have triggered a run-off, but was again interfered with by the courts under pressure from candidate Abdulla Yameen Gayoom, the former President Gayoom's younger brother. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Eventually Abdulla Yameen Gayoom was elected and the legal status of Nasheed has been in question ever since.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Internationally, especially in the climate, human rights and ocean communities. Nasheed has been seen as a hero and friend. Over the years he has been a featured speaker at conferences and has received an incredible number of awards for his work. At the BLUE Ocean Film Festival this year he won the Mission Blue award for his work on ocean issues, presented by Dr. Sylvia Earle.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WUNbbJal_eE/VPIHxyF7t7I/AAAAAAAARdQ/g6cIbkwRwyE/s1600/resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WUNbbJal_eE/VPIHxyF7t7I/AAAAAAAARdQ/g6cIbkwRwyE/s1600/resize.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Just a few months later, when he returned to his home, he was once again arrested.<br /><br /></div><h3>The Arresting Issue</h3>In 2012 a leading member of the opposition Dhivehi Qaumee Party, Mohamed Jameel Ahmed, was arrested on charges of hate-speech. Jameel was said to have accused Nasheed of acting under <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jan/17/maldives-courts-chief-justice-arrest">the influence of Jews and "Christian priests" to undermine Islam in the Maldives</a>. As one can imagine, under an Islamic nation that follows Sharia law, this is a incendiary charge. <br /><br />Ahmed's statements were on the tail end of increasing <a href="http://foreign.gov.mv/new/tpl/news/article/217/">Islamic extremist rhetoric</a> in the island nation that has now become a <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/islamic-state-the-maldives--a-recruiting-paradise-for-jihadists-9731574.html">hotbed of Isis and terrorist</a> activities. <br /><br />As the deputy chairman of the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission in Britain wrote in an op-ed:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">The rising influence of the Islamists is equally troubling. There is growing intolerance of non-Muslims, anti-Western sentiment is being whipped up and there is talk of fully implementing Shariah law. A prominent blogger, Ismail Rasheed, who dared to speak for religious freedom, was nearly killed in a knife attack, and later fled the country. </blockquote>Supreme Court Judge Abdulla Mohamed, a remnant from the previous 30 year administration, ordered Ahmed's release and was detained by the Maldive's military for approximately 23 days. The detainment was surrounding the Judge's<a href="http://minivannews.com/politics/criminal-court-obstructing-corruption-investigation-police-allege-9510"> </a><a href="http://minivannews.com/politics/criminal-court-obstructing-corruption-investigation-police-allege-9510">14 cases of obstruction of police duty</a> including the suspension of two police lawyers who were investigating corruption in parliament and the courts on “ethical grounds” and the release of a wide range of detainees including murderers and Mohamed Jameel Ahmed.<br /><br />The Vice President under Nasheed called to suspend <a href="http://www.haveeru.com.mv/news/39883">Judge Abdulla Mohamed</a> for his alleged corruption and other actions and the Home Minister Hassan Afeef requested military assistance for "fear of loss of public order and safety and national security" because of the Judge who, according to the minister had "<a href="http://minivannews.com/politics/chief-judge-took-entire-criminal-justice-system-in-his-fist-afeef-30926">taken the entire criminal justice system in his fist</a>."<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FUJwL4QONT0/TzysKjhCCuI/AAAAAAAACFE/pawWV6jjJxo/s1600/Final-Presentation-Timeline-High-resolution-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FUJwL4QONT0/TzysKjhCCuI/AAAAAAAACFE/pawWV6jjJxo/s1600/Final-Presentation-Timeline-High-resolution-3.jpg" height="225" width="320" /></a></div><br />Maldivian law requires that any arrested suspect must be released if not brought to trial within 15 days, though the President may extend pretrial detention for an additional 30 days. This is well within the limits of the 23 days that the Judge was detained. <br /><br />Nasheed apparently had <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/apr/01/dictatorship-maldives-democracy">mixed feelings about the arrest</a>: <br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">"I didn't like arresting a judge, and as a long and dedicated Amnesty member I must say yes, Amnesty's point was that I must try and find a procedure within the system to deal with this another way. And I was asking everyone, can you spot that procedure? But I just couldn't let him sit on the bench. There is a huge lack of confidence in the judiciary, and I had to do something and the constitution calls upon me to do that. It's not a nice thing to do. And it's not a thing that I would want to do. And it's not a thing that I liked doing. But it had to be done."</blockquote>It should be noted that the catalyst for these events, Mohamed Jameel Ahmed who is now Home Minister under the new regime, <a href="http://www.haveeru.com.mv/news/47136">has been accused of influencing Nasheed's trial</a> and attempted to <a href="http://minivannews.com/politics/religious-obligation-to-bar-nasheed-from-upcoming-election-home-minister-dr-jameel-54318">bar Nasheed from the 2013 elections</a>. <br /><br />On February 22nd, the current administration arrested Nasheed on the charge of Terrorism, has barred press entry to the proceedings and have even refused bail for the former president. <br /><h2>A Country Divided.</h2><div>The news broke on twitter that Mohamed Nasheed had been arrested and detained. Soon the country seemed divided on twitter with some vocal posters lauding the arrest using the phrase "no one is above the law" while others pushed for Nasheed's immediate release.<br /><br />While being taken to court Nasheed attempted to talk to some members of the press before his closed proceedings occurred to make a statement. The police grabbed him and an altercation occurred causing the former president to fall to the ground and be grappled by the police. <br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MvX2BfBMygA" width="500"></iframe><br /><br />The images of this altercation came to be a rallying cry for both the pro-Nasheed and pro-arrest camps. On one side saying he was being brutalized and beaten, on the other claiming that Nasheed orchestrated the altercation and was a "drama queen." But the images of Nasheed in anguish has spread throughout the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2015/feb/23/maldives-former-president-mohamed-nasheed-dragged-court-video" target="_blank">British and Indianan news like wild fire</a>.<br /><br />Calls to action on both sides of the discussion have been launched including a Change.org petition for his release that, <a href="https://www.change.org/p/president-yaameen-abdul-gayoom-release-president-mohamed-nasheed" target="_blank">as of this article holds 3,500 signatures</a>. An opposing petition, <a href="https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/Government_of_Maldives_Nasheed_Must_Face_Justice/?nlBQfjb" target="_blank">which has been running for the same length of time currently holds 115</a>.<br /><br />One main undertone that has been running through the political struggle has been that of moderate Islamists in the nation, and those who take a more hard-line view. One video that has been circulating shows Nasheed speaking on the need for a reformation and modernized Islam.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/n0MmjJYU18E" width="500"></iframe><br /><br />As one Maldivian stated in a post, "this is enough" for his arrest. One source who requested to remain anonymous told me;<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">You should keep in mind that Maldives is an Islamic nation. Mohamed Nasheed was probably the best politician Maldives have ever seen. He fought against the dictatorship, against corruption and more. Nasheed is a moderate, but he failed to recognize the moderate people out from the extremists. He gave number is speeches which he should not have being the President of the Maldives. That's his weakness. For example the one in Denmark. He asked Jesuits to come and assist Maldives to fight against extremism. As a politician of an Islamic nation he shouldn't have reached out to the Jesuits. It's all politics. The current government can easily trap him for what happened during his term.</blockquote>Earlier this week, an angry crowd threatened to assault Human Rights Commissioners over a statement which "<a href="http://minivannews.com/politics/angry-crowd-threatens-to-assault-human-rights-commissioners-92977" target="_blank">condemned the police’s disproportionate use of force against Nasheed, and urged the state to immediately extend medical attention and access to a lawyer.</a>"<br /><br />According to press, "<a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-31575279" target="_blank">President Yameen has recently become alienated from key former colleagues. He arrested his defence minister, accusing him of plotting a coup. He has also been deserted by another former ally, a resort tycoon who has now joined hands with Mr Nasheed.</a>"<br /><br />In fact, recently, <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2015/02/thousands-rally-detention-maldives-leader-nasheed-150227134523881.html" target="_blank">thousands</a> of Maldivians took to the streets to rally against Nasheed's detention in Male. This is an impressive view from above as witnesses were eager to share the news of the demonstrations.<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">Mass anti-government demonstration in Male <a href="http://t.co/QKvF3BHPrs">http://t.co/QKvF3BHPrs</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/YouTube">@youtube</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NasheedUnderArrest?src=hash">#NasheedUnderArrest</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FreeNasheed?src=hash">#FreeNasheed</a> <a href="http://t.co/SG1sMZheOJ">pic.twitter.com/SG1sMZheOJ</a><br />— @rr@ (@iarysh) <a href="https://twitter.com/iarysh/status/571386256224968704">February 27, 2015</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br />Twitter user <a href="https://twitter.com/nazeee" target="_blank">@nazeee</a> took some amazing shots on the ground as well.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DpzNCDjoY2w/VPIUWEfo3oI/AAAAAAAAReM/4zdkSRA-ITc/s1600/_MG_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DpzNCDjoY2w/VPIUWEfo3oI/AAAAAAAAReM/4zdkSRA-ITc/s1600/_MG_0004.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; text-align: start;">Free President Nasheed</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J4IrgFFI1oo/VPIUWqCh9vI/AAAAAAAAReQ/YJu22_hO-5w/s1600/_MG_0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J4IrgFFI1oo/VPIUWqCh9vI/AAAAAAAAReQ/YJu22_hO-5w/s1600/_MG_0009.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; text-align: start;">Protester engulfed in the Maldivian flags at the MDP JP rally calling for <br />the release of President Nasheed and all political detainees.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yVRDojQxJzQ/VPIUW9XlZJI/AAAAAAAAReY/eEVmWRRwXD8/s1600/_MG_0043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yVRDojQxJzQ/VPIUW9XlZJI/AAAAAAAAReY/eEVmWRRwXD8/s1600/_MG_0043.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; text-align: start;">Friends and family of the detained MP Ali Azim near his family home</span></td></tr></tbody></table>30 of the thousands of protesters were arrested and the demonstrations were brushed off by the current administration with one Minister stating the government, "<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/30-arrested-maldives-opposition-protest-29271956" target="_blank">can't be overthrown in the streets</a>" seemingly counter to the Maldives recent history. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><h2>Foreign Response</h2><div>One of the most interesting players in the Maldives situation is the nation of China. Unlike the nations of <a href="http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/02/23/maldives-politics-idINKBN0LR1R820150223" target="_blank">India, the United States</a>, the <a href="https://twitter.com/Times_mv/status/570210239061962752" target="_blank">European Union</a>&nbsp;and <a href="http://minivannews.com/news-in-brief/uk-alerts-british-tourists-to-protests-in-male-92956" target="_blank">the UK</a> joining the call of <a href="https://twitter.com/billmckibben/status/308914451212541953" target="_blank">Bill McKibben</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/richardbranson/status/570615465485213697" target="_blank">Richard Branson</a>'s concern of the situation, <a href="http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/china-backs-maldives-government-declines-to-condemn-president-mohammad-nasheed-arrest/1/420863.html" target="_blank">China has remained relatively silent</a>. China's official statement of this being a "domestic issue" that they will not "interfere" is very similar to the party line of the <a href="http://www.foreign.gov.mv/new/tpl/news/article/1292/" target="_blank">current regime</a>.<br /><br />This is not very surprising as Nasheed was China's enemy number one during the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2009/dec/22/copenhagen-climate-change-mark-lynas" target="_blank">Copenhagen climate talks</a>. The country has been eyeing the island nation for a <a href="http://chinadailymail.com/2014/09/17/china-wants-a-military-base-on-maldives-in-indian-ocean/" target="_blank">military base location</a>. There are even those who theorize the arrest and coup was a push from this <a href="http://www.firstpost.com/world/maldives-crisis-was-ex-president-mohamed-nasheeds-arrest-choreographed-by-china-2117843.html" target="_blank">foreign, non-interfering government</a>. The relationship between the Maldives and the Chinese is a strangely close one. <br /><br />As stated by the previous <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/gayoom-defends-criminal-case-against-nasheed/article4185436.ece" target="_blank">President Gayoom</a>:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">China, like India, has been with us for a very long time. During my time [as President] also they provided a lot of assistance. China has been with us for 40 years. It is natural for a country with such huge resources to come and help us…This is not a case of us preferring China and dislodging India</blockquote>While the relationship is an interesting one, any further analysis of China's involvement in the ousting and subsequent trial of the climate activist, moderate Islamic reformer president is just speculation.<br /><br />The rest of the world can only watch on and continue to put pressure for this process to be open and fair while the Island President faces on uncertain future. My thoughts are with you Anni.<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"></blockquote></div>Andrew Kornblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17006069193232411653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110763491746806640.post-39656863843619977352015-01-12T19:30:00.001-08:002015-01-13T11:30:16.826-08:00Fox in the Hen HouseThere is something fundamentally broken about the way our government operates. Ignoring how ridiculous the incumbent win rate is, or the fact that we are now in an oligarchy represented by those with more wealth than many in our country can even imagine, the real concern is in our legislative committees.<br /><br />Congress oversees so many bills and pieces of our national government that they attempt to delegate those responsibilities and lighten the load. Covering issues like agriculture, economy and veterans affairs, these committees not only are responsible for legislation in these areas but on hearings and even the budgets of government agencies.<br /><br />The ideal is that those with expertise or grounding in the subject matter of these committees would serve as members. The reality is far from the ideal. How our system currently works is that the leadership of the parties in control decide who gets placed into these committees and who chairs them. Yesterday, as part of the transition of our Senate to Republican Control, Senator Ted Cruz was appointed chair of the <a href="http://www.commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ScienceandSpace" target="_blank">Space, Science and Competitiveness committee</a>. Senator Cruz's appointment is the sign of a broken system.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/sea_ice_fraction_change_and_absorbed_solar_radiation_change.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/sea_ice_fraction_change_and_absorbed_solar_radiation_change.png" height="116" width="400" /></a></div><br />This committee oversees "science, engineering, and technology research and development" including the agency NASA. The biggest fear with Cruz's new position is that he has a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/12/ted-cruz-nasa_n_6456270.html" target="_blank">bad track record when it comes to science and NASA</a>. There is also concern, <a href="http://www.teapartyexpress.org/3667/ted-cruz-spending" target="_blank">as a die-hard Tea Party Budget Hawk</a>, that Cruz will take an AX to the budget of the agency. As the main spear-header of the government shutdown, <a href="http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2014/11/04/science-in-a-republican-senate-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/" target="_blank">he caused more lasting damage to scientific research</a> than we can really measure. As a staunch <a href="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/02/20/cruz-to-cnn-global-warming-not-supported-by-data/" target="_blank">Climate-Change</a> denier, Cruz seems like he would be less than likely to listen to <a href="http://climate.nasa.gov/" target="_blank">NASA's findings on the subject.</a>&nbsp;NASA is the leading source of climate data, so the publicly stated goal of both Cruz and other republicans on the <a href="http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Cruz-critics-wary-of-his-gavel-on-NASA-and-6010695.php" target="_blank">committee to refocus NASA</a> on space exploration creates a nervous situation.<br /><br />One may think that being faced with the findings of NASA's&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/nasa-satellites-1st-carbon-dioxide-maps-earth-revealed-n272066" target="_blank">carbon project</a>, or witnessing the ice-caps receding from&nbsp;<a href="http://www.climatecentral.org/news/fate-of-earths-ice-comes-into-focus-18469" target="_blank">NASA's Operation: Ice-Bridge</a>&nbsp;could change the denier into a believer, but his historic <a href="http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Cruz-critics-wary-of-his-gavel-on-NASA-and-6010695.php" target="_blank">denial of facts</a>&nbsp;and his long standing on this same committee makes most doubt such an effect will occur. <br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://time.com/3663439/ted-cruz-senate-subcommittee-nasa-congress/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://timedotcom.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/184060285.jpg?quality=80&amp;w=1100" height="213" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />This leadership shift should come as no surprise, the high likelihood of Cruz becoming a "<a href="http://www.newrepublic.com/article/120180/climate-denier-ted-cruz-may-lead-senate-science-subcommittee" target="_blank">Lead Senator on science</a>" was reported after November elections caused the political shakeup. Added to that is the fact that currently&nbsp;<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2015/01/republican-climate-denial-caucus" target="_blank">72% of Republican Senators</a> deny that humans have a role in climate change - or that it is happening at all. That <a href="http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/rare-sight-gop-senator-walks-back-belief-climate-change" target="_blank">number is getting higher</a> with the new power shift.<br /><br />What is shocking is that the American people, besides the power to vote for elected officials, have no control over committees or who is in charge of them. There are no checks and balances over these committee assignments. These type of odd assignments happen all the time. In fact the majority of the science committee members on conservative side have been climate deniers since the 1970s.<br /><br />The thought comes to mind that those who should be making decisions on science legislation and budget should be Scientists. As Neil DeGrasse Tyson pointed out eloquently, there is a lack of scientists in congress.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/PqKVa6BFFto/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/PqKVa6BFFto&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/PqKVa6BFFto&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />What we as members of the public can do is voice our concerns and make sure that scientists have a say in our legislature's science work.<br /><br />In the last few years NASA has <a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/01/150106-kepler-goldilocks-exoplanets-universe-space-science/" target="_blank">discovered exoplanets that could support life</a>, found <a href="http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2015/01/04/nasa-reports-scientists-discover-evidence-water-reservoir-near-mars-surface-meteorites-earth/" target="_blank">water on other planets</a> and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/12/rosetta-spacecraft-landing-comet_n_6146012.htmlhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/12/rosetta-spacecraft-landing-comet_n_6146012.html" target="_blank">successfully landed a rover on a comet</a>. These successes are on the back of a limited budget and the agency should be above reproach from a Senator with an ax to grind who is only in a position of power due to a broken system.<br /><br /><br /></div>Andrew Kornblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17006069193232411653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110763491746806640.post-18485541811150684742014-12-18T10:00:00.000-08:002014-12-18T14:54:41.821-08:00America Loses the Colbert ReportA national treasure, hero and amazing actor is leaving his role as a satirical mirror of the conservative pundit to another stage. Stephen Colbert has been a political jester the likes of which the world hasn't seen since Diogenes the Dog and tonight is his last show. For 9 years this entertainer has acted as an iconic personality and affected American politics far beyond any fictional character in history. Tonight is Stephen's last Colbert Report and America is losing a needed voice in the political conversation.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://colbertnation.mtvnimages.com/images/shows/colbert_report/video_archive/season_2/cr_02132_08_col_v6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://colbertnation.mtvnimages.com/images/shows/colbert_report/video_archive/season_2/cr_02132_08_col_v6.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br />Over the past 9 years the brilliant host of the Colbert Report has played the part of lampooning conservative punditry. On the national stage this entertainer and joker had played his part so well that he managed to convince House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi to first advise colleagues against going on the show, t<a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/72696.html" target="_blank">o jokingly campaign against his Super Pack</a>, to<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReydsjL0w5o" target="_blank">&nbsp;later debating him on his own show</a>, and&nbsp;finally&nbsp;<a href="http://thehill.com/video/in-the-news/226619-kingston-pelosi-send-colbert-off" target="_blank">appearing in his send off</a>.<br /><br />Stephen Colbert taught us&nbsp;<a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7uvw_colbert-on-obrian_news" target="_blank">the Elven language</a>,&nbsp;that it was OK to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewrap.com/stephen-colbert-formidable-opponent-comedy-central-cia-torture-report-bill-o-reilly-fox-news/" target="_blank">argue with ourselves</a>, why&nbsp;<a href="http://thecolbertreport.cc.com/videos/f0uh68/threatdown---all-bear-edition" target="_blank">bears should never be trusted</a>, and tried to bring the&nbsp;<a href="http://thecolbertreport.cc.com/guests/cornel-west" target="_blank">funky Cornel West</a>&nbsp;to a different audience. The Colbert Report&nbsp;helped us all&nbsp;<a href="http://mashable.com/2014/12/17/better-know-a-district-colbert/" target="_blank">better know our political districts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://m.chronicle.com/article/How-The-Colbert-Report-/150761" target="_blank">"bumped" some serious academic guests</a>, and even introduced me to one of&nbsp;my heroes of the ocean,&nbsp;<a href="http://thecolbertreport.cc.com/videos/s52xb5/sylvia-earle" target="_blank">Dr. Sylvia Earle</a>. One shark scientist even made the claim that "<a href="https://www.blogger.com/that%20http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2014/04/stephen_colbert_s_best_science_segments_will_his_move_to_cbs_dumb_down_his.html" target="_blank">Stephen Colbert Is the Best Source of Science on TV</a>." The article in question asks if the move to CBS will "dumb down" his programming. I share that fear.<br /><br />Colbert hosted the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7FTF4Oz4dI" target="_blank">2006 Presidential Correspondents Dinner</a> (roasting President W. Bush in the process) has won <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQIkFF0K8KA" target="_blank">Grammys</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUsb7xEbBFY" target="_blank">Emmys</a> and even two Peabody Awards. Stephen Colbert pointed out the absurdity in the hubris in our policies and even taught American's about an interesting concept in campaign finance, the <a href="http://time.com/3600116/stephen-colbert-report-finale-super-pac/" target="_blank">Super Pack</a>.This program was not only <a href="http://www.thewrap.com/stephen-colbert-replaces-david-letterman-colbert-report-most-popular-moments/" target="_blank">consistently hilarious</a>, but it was also <a href="http://nypost.com/2014/12/17/fond-farewell-the-colbert-reports-most-memorable-moments/" target="_blank">provocative and educational</a>.<br /><br />Colbert is an <a href="http://www.salon.com/2014/12/15/why_the_colbert_reports_interviews_can_never_be_replaced/" target="_blank">amazing interviewer</a>&nbsp;and that will follow no matter where he goes. His subject matter and his guests will likely be more akin to the fluff of other late night T.V. and far less impactfull on National discourse. In many episodes, Stephen Colbert goes toe-to-toe with the political leaders and heads of state with barely breaking a sweat like <a href="http://thecolbertreport.cc.com/guests/newt-gingrich" target="_blank">Newt Gingrich</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://thecolbertreport.cc.com/guests/laura-ingraham" target="_blank">Laura Ingraham</a>. He opened up his image for the larger community through <a href="http://thecolbertreport.cc.com/videos/vzigy3/green-screen-challenge---the-announcement" target="_blank">releasing a "green screen" challenge</a>. In one particularly interesting situation Colbert covered the issue of migrant worker's conditions and later<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxeIO4pW05s" target="_blank"> testified before Congress in character</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://colbertnation.mtvnimages.com/images/shows/colbert_report/videos/season6/06121/cr_06121_05_16x9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://colbertnation.mtvnimages.com/images/shows/colbert_report/videos/season6/06121/cr_06121_05_16x9.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div><br />The program, by pointing a finger at the hilarious underbelly of the political system, Stephen Colbert changed it. By making himself part of the political narrative, Colbert also put himself in a corner. He had to consistently play the same character, probably even in public, for 9 years. This level of commitment and obsession will be missed.<br /><br />I am happy for Stephen in the fact that he will be replacing David Letterman for the prime, late night TV spot. I am sad for America because we will be losing a key voice in the political discourse who brought up the level of our culture, our scientific awareness and our awareness of the absurdity around us.<br /><br />Shine on you crazy Stephen Colbert, you will leave America a slightly less politically educated place but I am positive the hilarity will ensue.Andrew Kornblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17006069193232411653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110763491746806640.post-20523880947342234262014-10-01T14:15:00.000-07:002014-10-01T14:24:56.269-07:00Thoughts on the Plastic Bag BanYesterday California became the first state in the nation to ban plastic bags from grocery stories. Building on similar efforts by municipalities such as San Francisco, San Jose, Washington D.C. and others throughout the country, the State ban is the latest push against these urban tumble weeds.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/09/30/352774915/ban-on-single-use-plastic-bags-is-enacted-in-california?utm_medium=RSS&amp;utm_campaign=news" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2014/09/30/plastic-bags_wide-789792bb312c9954dacf436d4159239904399349-s40-c85.jpg" height="178" width="320" /></a></div><br />After July 1st, 2015, grocery stores and other retail locations will no longer be able to give single-use plastic bags and charge 10-cents for paper or compostable bags. This push comes after the relatively ineffective efforts of the California legislature to enforce recycling of these plastic pests. In 2006 the state put forward legislation mandating recycling at stores and, eventually, curb-side locations. The estimate by most agencies was that as few as <a href="http://www.surfrider.org/coastal-blog/entry/california-plastic-bag-recycling-law-fails-to-be-effective" target="_blank">3% of California's plastic bags we actually being recycled</a>&nbsp;and the law had <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_24419047/californias-plastic-bag-recycling-law-has-no-oversight" target="_blank">little to no oversight</a>. This&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thegreenprogressive.com/2010/09/ab-1998-why-california-plastic-ban.html" target="_blank">isn't the first time&nbsp;</a>that California has tried to pass a Plastic Bag Ban, but this is the first successful effort.<br /><br />The <a href="http://ecowatch.com/2014/04/07/22-facts-plastic-pollution-10-things-can-do-about-it/" target="_blank">pollution and waste</a> that these products create has been cited as the main reasoning for this legislation. The facts that the U.S. goes through 100 billion plastic shopping bags annually at an estimated cost to retailers of $4 billion, and that most of these end up either in land-fills, in creeks, or in our oceans should lead most to the conclusion that the ban is a reasonable move.<br /><br />Plastics are durable, cheap to make, light and cheap to transport. The same reasons that these bags are attractive to consumers are the same reason that they are a problem. Plastics don't biodegrade, they do break down into smaller parts and photo-degrade but they can last at least 500 years. The lightweight plastic bags get picked up by breezes and eventually make their way to&nbsp;<a href="http://all%20sorts%20of%20places%20they%20shouldn%27t%20be/" target="_blank">all sorts of places they shouldn't be</a>. During these migrations the plastics&nbsp;<a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2013/aug/01/science/la-sci-sn-ocean-plastisphere-habitat20130801" target="_blank">absorb bacteria and toxins that can create their own bio-systems</a>&nbsp;and, by being eaten by fish and other animals, can enter our food stream.<br /><br />What is not cited is the cost these bags to the American taxpayer. Those bags that end up as litter or are caught by trees and the landscape have to be cleaned up. Unless there is a massive volunteer force, the cost of the labor usually falls to the municipalities. While these bags are lauded as "<a href="http://grist.org/living/ask-umbra-can-you-really-recycle-plastic-bags/" target="_blank">Recyclable</a>," the energy and economic costs associated with recycling can be a huge net-loss and most facilities can't process them. Those that are mandated to collect them, but do not have the equipment to convert them into something new usually ship them to other locations, causing a larger carbon footprint for this film.<br /><br />In many instances, with mixed recycling being sorted at municipal waste facilities, plastic bags would end up in machines that could not process them and <a href="http://sustainability.ucsf.edu/Learn_to_Sort_Your_Waste/faq" target="_blank">cause those machines to break down</a>. The cost of repairing these machines usually falls to the tax payer.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/topstories/ci_13405431" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site568/2009/0923/20090923__kansenchu~2_GALLERY.JPG" height="215" width="320" /></a></div><br />In 2009 I was working for City Council Member Kansen Chu and, at the time, I worked with city staff on a <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/topstories/ci_13405431" target="_blank">ban on plastic bags</a>. The process for attempting to pass such legislation included a closed door meeting with stakeholders from the opposition. The list included waste management, grocers associations and the American Chemistry Council. The main arguments were that the ban would cause increased costs for grocers, that paper bags were a higher cost and higher impact alternative and that the convenience of these fully recyclable bags outweighed any "negligible environmental impacts."<br /><br />During those sessions I talked to each of their points and retorted that, the times are changing and that the Chemistry Council should try and change with them through bio-degradable plastics, or be comfortable with the concept of becoming obsolete.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://lentilbreakdown.blogspot.com/2011/03/single-bite-bag-monster.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gRQ7pl9m-pU/TZSaQoZd4XI/AAAAAAAADPo/3CNLHQVsiTM/s1600/Dont%2Bfeed%2BBag%2Bmonster.jpg" height="250" width="320" /></a><span id="goog_1470077832"></span><span id="goog_1470077833"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a></div><br />Almost as soon as California's ban passed, a similar response was published by the <a href="http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/2224561" target="_blank">American Progressive Bag Alliance</a>, a group of American plastic bag manufacturers and related companies, who plan on trying to repeal the legislating through referendum. Trying to tug at libertarian heartstrings with phrases like "greedy special interests and bad government collide in the policymaking process" the release is short, cryptic and filled with unsubstantiated claims.<br /><br />The release specifically states that the bill "would jeopardize thousands of California manufacturing jobs, hurt the environment, and fleece consumers for billions so grocery store shareholders and their union partners can line their pockets."<br /><br />In regards to California jobs, there are many plastic film producers in California but, like other industries whose product's usefulness has come to an end, those facilities and their staff either need to adapt to new forms of plastic or find new industries to explore.<br /><br />I actually called the APBA to follow up on the other claims but the representative was unavailable for comment. As of this posting the American Chemical Council, who has <a href="http://www.americanchemistry.com/Media/PressReleasesTranscripts/ACC-news-releases/ACC-SPI-Align-and-Expand-Efforts-to-Defend-Plastic-Bags-and-Increase-Plastic-Film-Recycling.html" target="_blank">direct ties to the formation of the Bag Alliance</a>, had made no public comment.<br /><br />The fact of the matter is that the real solution regarding plastic waste for American's and people around the world to change their consumption habits to something SLIGHTLY less convenient than getting a new, single-use plastic bag every time we go shopping. We need to recognize our impact and the waste we produce. Remember each time you get a Starbucks or a soft drink with a plastic straw that those items will probably not be recycled and next time, carrying a reusable container or straw would be, in the long run, a better decision.Andrew Kornblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17006069193232411653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110763491746806640.post-63141547917006155282014-09-22T18:45:00.001-07:002014-09-22T19:05:33.267-07:00The People's ClimateYesterday a flood of over 400,000 people descended on the streets of New York city. Banging on drums, singing out chants, and displaying signs of all shapes and sizes, the attendees of the aptly named "People's Climate March" lent their voices demanding action on the tragedy of the commons we are currently witnessing in our changing world.<br /><br />Citing frustrations with the current international inaction on climate change by world leaders, citizens of the world from as far away as France, Rome and Papa New Guinea joined in this single act, creating the largest climate demonstration of its kind. This event seemed like the culmination of disappointing and anger at the ineffectiveness of conferences like Kyoto,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thegreenprogressive.com/2009/12/post-copenhagen-wait-what-happened.html" target="_blank">Copenhagen</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thegreenprogressive.com/2010/12/cancun-sumit-update-chinas-complaint.html" target="_blank">Cancun</a>&nbsp;and <a href="http://www.thegreenprogressive.com/2011/12/kyoto-canada-and-durban-talks.html" target="_blank">Durban</a> mixed with similar attitudes towards their own governments. The roughly four hundred thousand attendees in New York were joined in 24 hours of demonstrations world-wide calling for real action in response to the pending United Nations Climate announcement beginning tomorrow.<br /><br />Attendees ranged not only in origin but backgrounds as well. Reports of contingents representing Hurricane Katrina victims, the ocean, climate scientists, and VIPs. Officials and activists like Al Gore, UN Secretary Ban Ki Moon, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/22/john-kerry-climate-change_n_5861960.html" target="_blank">John Kerry</a> and activist/movie star Leonardo Di Caprio were a few of the multitudes who took to the street.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kvue.com/story/news/nation/2014/09/21/largest-ever-climate-change-march-rolls-through-nyc/16018673/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/bd6a36880cde1d99db722d23e34769c5a9b9950b/c=1-0-534-400&amp;r=x404&amp;c=534x401/local/-/media/KVUE/KVUE/2014/09/21/1411335178000-march.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br />Organizers and leaders at the event called on participants to not only take action, <a href="http://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/hedges-klein-mckibben-sanders-and-sawant-call-for-urgent-action-on-climate-change/" target="_blank">as Bill McKibben and a panel urged</a>, but to also pay attention on the <a href="http://www.democracynow.org/2014/9/22/bernie_sanders_at_peoples_climate_march" target="_blank">issue of dirty money in politics</a>. The event triggered huge media attention including 24 hour live blogging by <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/live/2014/sep/21/peoples-climate-march-live" target="_blank">the Guardian</a> and the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/22/nyregion/new-york-city-climate-change-march.html?_r=0" target="_blank">NY Times</a>&nbsp;and <a href="http://peoplesclimate.org/" target="_blank">the 1,400 groups</a> either supporting or participating ranged from <a href="http://www.sierraclub.org/peoples-climate-march" target="_blank">the Sierra Club</a>&nbsp;to <a href="http://www.avaaz.org/en/" target="_blank">AVAAZ</a>&nbsp;have been very pleased by the results.<br /><br /><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: #282828; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 26.8799991607666px;">&nbsp;<a href="http://time.com/3415162/peoples-climate-march-new-york-manhattan-demonstration/" target="_blank">“Today, civil society acted at a scale that outdid even our own wildest expectations,” said May Boeve, executive director of 350.org, in a statement. “Tomorrow, we expect our political leaders to do the same.”</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">The main purpose of the event was to resonate with those meeting at the United Nation on Tuesday. world leaders from 125 nations, including Barack Obama, President Obama and world leaders from government, finance and business worlds will be at the U.N. to announce initiatives meant to move the world towards limiting global warming. While some may argue that we are too late for an international bureaucracy like the UN to make any effective change from <a href="http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn26243-world-on-track-for-worstcase-warming-scenario.html?cmpid=RSS%7CNSNS%7C2012-GLOBAL%7Conline-news#.VCDHFmBX-uZ" target="_blank">where we are headed</a>, citing past failures, back and the fact that "some of the most important world leaders" like Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/09/22/u-n-climate-summit-is-high-profile-but-some-of-worlds-most-important-leaders-will-skip-it/" target="_blank">skipping the proceedings.</a> These two nations missing this summit would be more than just a snub at the UN, it could be disastrous for any agreements made there.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/7kfWH1p1coY/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/7kfWH1p1coY&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/7kfWH1p1coY&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are a few external trends that seem to be supporting the People's Climate march. Just today the news broke that <a href="http://www.nationaljournal.com/tech/google-announces-plans-to-cut-ties-with-alec-20140922" target="_blank">Google was dissolving their ties with the lobbying group ALEC</a>, a group that normally represents <a href="http://www.thegreenprogressive.com/search/label/ALEC" target="_blank">the dirtiest of oil interests</a>. This was the culmination of an effort by a coalition of groups, spearheaded by eco-billionaire Tom Steyer backed <a href="http://forecastthefacts.org/press/releases/2014/9/22/statement-campaign-director-brant-olson-google-dro/" target="_blank">Forecast the Facts</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Adding to this interesting trend are some moves made by the energy industry. First, it is noteworthy that&nbsp;</span>Six international <a href="http://online.wsj.com/articles/six-energy-firms-to-sign-u-n-brokered-pact-to-cut-methane-emissions-1411417123?tesla=y&amp;mg=reno64-wsj&amp;url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB12584803618636143833504580170382491429528.html" target="_blank">energy companies have agreed to work to reduce emissions of methane</a>, through a UN backed process. The hope is that these initial steps will resonate throughout the industry and eventually bring a change to the culture and practices. Second, the Rockefellers, a family that made most of their fortune through oil, <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-29310475" target="_blank">have decided to shift more than $50 billion of their fossil fuel holdings and business to the clean energy sector</a>&nbsp;citing the reason as clean technology and renewable energy are trending to be the future of the energy industry.<br /><br />The People's Climate march was a sight to behold and made me lament the fact that I was stuck on the west coast for this perfect storm of action. While the effects of the event, and the #FloodWallStreet protest, are still playing out, we cannot sit idly by waiting for the longer term effects to play out. Now is the time to contact your local representatives, citing this historic moment as a turning point.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BlueOceanFilm/photos/a.773963279316904.1073741832.174760569237181/773963382650227/?type=3&amp;theater" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r5BiNmxPPQg/VCDTi7wbgZI/AAAAAAAAJgE/j9_-2cHvGck/s1600/247637_773963382650227_9055310457224740039_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br />We, as a collective commons, have to protect our interest through paying attention to the activities of the UN, of our local government and by getting involved with events throughout the world. Those who have held a vested interest in the goings on in the Climate March need to continue the wave through participating (either in-person or virtually) with events like <a href="http://sxsweco.com/" target="_blank">SXSW Eco</a> happening next month or the <a href="http://www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/gpap_home/gpap_events/gpap_wpc/" target="_blank">IUCN World Parks Congress</a> and the <a href="http://www.blueoceanfilmfestival.org/" target="_blank">BLUE Ocean film festival and conservation event</a> happening in November. We each need to continue the conversation, look to solutions and plan for the future. As others have noticed, we are at a crossroads of<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/09/climate-change-is-an-opportunity-to-dramatically-reinvent-the-economy/380429/?single_page=true" target="_blank"> opportunity</a>&nbsp;and <a href="http://www.democracynow.org/2014/9/18/capitalism_vs_the_climate_naomi_klein" target="_blank">need</a>&nbsp;to dramatically change our economic model to something that supports us in the long run without decimating our home.Andrew Kornblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17006069193232411653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110763491746806640.post-73645211775539937182014-08-11T16:09:00.000-07:002014-08-15T11:03:42.644-07:0010 Things to Do Instead of Watching MegalodonThe Discovery Channel is again gracing the viewers of its ever popular Shark Week with a Megalodon special. Those familiar with Shark Week will remember this very popular feature on "<i>The Monster that </i><b style="font-style: italic;">Lives</b>"&nbsp;from last year's programming and the ire it raised with <a href="http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/science-sushi/2013/08/05/shark-week-jumps-the-shark-an-open-letter-to-discovery-communications/">the scientific community</a>.&nbsp;For those not familiar, this program seemed to be Discovery Channel's p<i>ièce de résistance&nbsp;</i>of misleading shark programming. The fake "documentary" was so detrimental to the viewing community that an audience poll showed 73% of those who had watched the program believed that this long extinct animal still existed.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-El2Dx4VXaAA/U-VBzRVjVSI/AAAAAAAAIXE/_9klYpp-2Ow/s1600/10445522_708783462514474_4065142545559795142_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-El2Dx4VXaAA/U-VBzRVjVSI/AAAAAAAAIXE/_9klYpp-2Ow/s1600/10445522_708783462514474_4065142545559795142_n.jpg" height="320" width="226" />&nbsp;</a><span style="text-align: start;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">The scientific community takes issue with the fact that Shark Week has become a feeding frenzy of sharks portrayed as frightening or dangerous. There have even been outreach that the network has done where their posted shark "facts" are flatly wrong.<span style="text-align: right;">When an entire movie centered around convincing viewers that a giant shark that had been extinct for more than 2 million years still could pose a threat to the ocean, it was the final straw for many in the conservation and scientific community.&nbsp;</span>Even though actual shark scientists reached out to Discovery, the network didn't seem to get the message. &nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This year the network seeks to be doubling down on its Megalodon bet with <i>Megalodon: The New Evidence.</i>&nbsp;No one is quite sure what to expect from the show but the theory is more "eye-witness" accounts of seeing the mythical creature and &nbsp;more CGI than the last Star Wars film. &nbsp;The "Submarine" shark has already been shown to be a huge disappointment with false science and advice like "popping a balloon full of milk".</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Personally, I am avoiding this show and deciding to get my "Shark Fix" from a few sources that are more <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27MLEvEyxAo">scientific and "factual.</a>" If you too want to take a bite of something a bit more substantial than the "documentary" programming that the Discovery Channel is putting out there, here are 10 things to satiate your shark appetite. &nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">1. NOAA Shark Week Portal&nbsp;</span></h2><div><a href="http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/sharkweek/welcome.html" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/sharkweek/images/sharkweek_header2013.jpg" height="187" width="320" /></a>The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has a treasure trove of amazing shark footage, maps, photos and even some very entertaining and educational podcasts. Their focus is on "Sharks in the Sanctuaries" and will even show you the various locations where you can find these amazing creatures. &nbsp;</div><div><br /><br /></div><h2><span style="font-size: x-large;">2. Read Up on the Best Shark Experts</span></h2><div>David Shiffman, aka <a href="http://www.twitter.com/whysharksmatter" target="_blank">@WhySharksMatter</a> on Twitter, has put together an amazing, comprehensive list of Shark scientists to follow on Twitter and beyond for <a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-best-shark-biologists-and-conservationists-to-follow-during-shark-week/?utm_source=twitterfeed&amp;utm_medium=twitter">Scientific America</a>. The list contains member from all over the Earth researching everything from hammer heads, to cookie-cutter to great whites. If you are tired of the same old sensationalistic, non-science show, this is a list that will give you the real science that you can sink you teeth into.<br /><br /></div><h2><span style="font-size: x-large;">3. Learn About Shark Protection Through Time</span>&nbsp;</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; text-align: right;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/ZJQTSLgj2_s/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/ZJQTSLgj2_s&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/ZJQTSLgj2_s&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>The Smithsonian, who has mainly been known for their amazing museums and historical conservation also work in the ocean realm. The Ocean Portal has created an amazing tool for viewing the history of shark protection over time. Looking at this adapting infographic will show you the amazing progress that we have made, especially in finning. There is still so far to go but this is an amazing time-lapse of our relationship with sharks.<br /><br /><h2></h2><h2></h2><h2><span style="font-size: x-large;">4. Gills Club's Shark Research Comic</span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Gills Club, an organization trying to increase the interest and activities of children and young women in ocean science has put together some epic shark research comic strips that are being released this week for Shark Week. The comics themselves go over various Shark Heroes that are inspirational true stories of real life, groundbreaking shark research. A great read and far more interesting than Megalodon.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/155497421325778/"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/10606530_688752441206074_4403452144784911252_n.png?oh=f36a4441551b7e1958bda09085fbb803&amp;oe=5474AC13&amp;__gda__=1417308066_984a43f2382620a33eb2ab5e4c4576f1" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2><span style="font-size: x-large;">5. Re-Watch "Alien Sharks"</span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fkUnUOftgVk/U-hvCVUBEWI/AAAAAAAAIas/-fqeMdem3wI/s1600/Alien+Sharks+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fkUnUOftgVk/U-hvCVUBEWI/AAAAAAAAIas/-fqeMdem3wI/s1600/Alien+Sharks+image.jpg" height="166" width="320" /></a>Ignoring the bumper that Discovery Studios put out that looks like something of a blend between Futurama and Monsters Inc, Alien Sharks has been a godsend for scientists. Both last year and this the program has been rather amazing, bringing shark biodiversity together with strange shark behaviors and real science. This year we see the fantastic Paul Clerkin discover some very interesting species, definately one to check out.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h2><span style="font-size: x-large;">6. Catch Up On a REAL Live Shark Boat Expedition</span></h2><div>The <a href="http://www.sharkboat.org/">Shark Boat</a>, filled with self described "EcoPirates," is cruising around California and Mexico. Included in their daily routine is shark and fish research, scuba diving, interrupting illegal and unregulated fishing and, apparently doing backflips off of their boat. This crew of silly scallywags are educational, entertaining and an entertaining way to learn about one of the biggest threats to sharks, humans. They update pretty much every day from their boat to their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SharkBoat">facebook</a>, where they post fun pictures and videos to keep you entertained.&nbsp;</div><h3><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></h3><h2><span style="font-size: x-large;">7. Learn Some Real Shark Facts from Southern Fried Science&nbsp;</span></h2><div>Southern Fried Science is a collection of practicing marine scientists that educates on ocean science and issues. They have covered a ton of ocean species but their "<a href="http://www.southernfriedscience.com/?cat=446" target="_blank">Shark Feed</a>" is a treasure trove of articles covering <a href="http://www.southernfriedscience.com/?p=17516" target="_blank">Dogfish</a> to <a href="http://www.southernfriedscience.com/?p=17016" target="_blank">Goblin Sharks</a>&nbsp;to international shark events. This is a perfect place to learn all about, not only sharks, but the whole amazing world of ocean animals.<br /><br /></div><h2><span style="font-size: x-large;">8. Change the Channel to NatGeo</span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/wild/sharkfest/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/exposure/content/photo/photo/2084439_sharkfest1_wpqcl4sp5hrctsdllz4ccbpndxncurxrbvj6lwuht2ya6mzmafma_610x343.jpg" height="178" width="320" /></a></div><div>National Geographic is presenting "Shark Fest" a schedule of shark programming that, for the second year in a row, is going fin-to-fin against Discovery's "Shark Week." Unlike Discovery's programming, according Nat Geo's press release, they promise no mockumentaries: “… scare tactics and mockumentaries are best left to others.”</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h2><span style="font-size: x-large;">9. Sign Greenpeace's Ocean Sanctuaries Petition&nbsp;</span></h2><div>As dangerous as sharks are presented in Discovery's Shark Week, they are really at threat from us. There are few, if any, waters that they can swim in safety and Greenpeace has a petition to send to the UN. Though this only takes a few minutes to sign, you can fill up the Megalodon time with sharing the petition with your friends.<br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">Around 100 million sharks are killed by humans every year. This <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SharkWeek?src=hash">#SharkWeek</a>, help save them: <a href="http://t.co/aVQTd8xYxU">http://t.co/aVQTd8xYxU</a> <a href="http://t.co/5ftNeU7PNO">pic.twitter.com/5ftNeU7PNO</a><br />— Greenpeace (@Greenpeace) <a href="https://twitter.com/Greenpeace/statuses/498863214071795712">August 11, 2014</a></blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div><h2><span style="font-size: x-large;">10. Get Out There!</span></h2><div>The best advice anyone can give you about learning about sharks or the ocean is to leave your house and head to the ocean or an aquarium. You will learn more in a few moments than the entirety of Megalodon, and you actually be able to experience the fishes. Some aquariums, like the Monterey Bay Aquarium, will actually have special tours of their shark science departments, just ask around!</div><div><br /><br /><h2><span style="font-size: x-large;">BONUS #11. Watch Mission Blue on Netflix</span></h2></div><a href="http://mission-blue.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/m2_049_mb_1sht_US_clean-691x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://mission-blue.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/m2_049_mb_1sht_US_clean-691x1024.jpg" height="320" width="215" /></a>The great Dr. Sylvia Earle has a <a href="http://ht.ly/A8zeu" target="_blank">documentary</a> made on her life and her life's work in the Ocean. This visually stunning, real documentary about a woman who has spent more time underwater than you can possibly imagine is live today at noon on Netflix. Come learn about the former chief scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and her zeal for ocean exploration.<br /><br />The film was made in partnership with Netflix as a part of their budding content development plan. Moving away from dramas like <i>Orange is the New Black</i>&nbsp;and <i>House of Cards </i>and into the documentary market. <i>Mission Blue</i>'s end message is one of hope and action.<br /><br />The cast includes stars of science, stage and screen and an encounter with some gorgeous whale sharks and plenty of kelp.<br /><span id="goog_1678153849"></span>Andrew Kornblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17006069193232411653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110763491746806640.post-9231872351794674442014-06-09T07:30:00.000-07:002014-06-09T09:14:23.121-07:00World Oceans Day and the Pale Blue DotLast night's Cosmos was the final episode. It was a fantastic summary of the entirety of the season. Reinforcing the lessons and the influential characters we met and admired over the 13 episodes. In this one, Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Seth McFarlan's team assembled an awesome homage to Carl Sagan - the original Captain of the spaceship of the imagination.<br /><br />Carl Sagan's way of describing life and the world takes you from the tiniest portions of existence to a perspective of the universe where "you" barely exists. The calm and fluid tone of his voice, make you somehow OK with it and recognize the beauty in the symmetry.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/p86BPM1GV8M/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/p86BPM1GV8M&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/p86BPM1GV8M&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div><br />The segment chosen is especially poignant because of the date that this final episode landed on. This description of Earth as a "blue dot" or a "blue marble" has been a sort of clarion call of the Ocean community. It reminds us that the Ocean makes up the majority of our Earth and that from space, our planet is blue. <a href="http://mission-blue.org/2013/04/no-blue-no-green/">Without the blue, there is no green</a>. There is even a practice, started by <a href="http://www.wallacejnichols.org/130/blue-marbles.html">Wallace J Nichols</a>, of giving a blue glass marble to ocean heroes.<br /><br />Yesterday, June 8th, was <a href="http://worldoceansday.org/">World Oceans Day</a>.<br /><br />World Oceans Day is an international day of recognition for our Oceans, its beauty and what they mean to us. The day is usually full of <a href="http://worldoceansday.org/event-list/">special events</a> to support "<a href="http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2014/06/06/world-oceans-day-2014-together-we-have-the-power-to-protect-the-ocean/">clean energy choices, trash-free coasts and beaches, sustainable seafood, and more.</a>"<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.earthtimes.org/newsimage/world-oceans-day-2012_8612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.earthtimes.org/newsimage/world-oceans-day-2012_8612.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>This year's highlights included a "<a href="http://worldoceansday.org/promise/">Selfie for the Sea" c</a>ampaign, a <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23WorldOceansDay&amp;src=tyah">flood of tweets</a> and a special hangout <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xuF464c1FU">between Vampire Diaries actor Ian Somerhalder and Fabien Cousteau</a> broadcasting from Mission Aquarius.<br /><br />It is fitting, even if unintentional, that the end of such a popular show as Cosmos mirrored the theme of this year's World Oceans Day; "Together we have the power to protect the ocean."Andrew Kornblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17006069193232411653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110763491746806640.post-1511923195481007072014-05-06T09:03:00.000-07:002014-05-06T09:35:40.583-07:00Boiling Over the Arctic In the next few months, all eyes are going to be on the growing conflict that is currently simmering in the cold arctic circle. As the ice melts, the once remote and un-navigable area is&nbsp;<a href="http://www.npr.org/2014/05/04/309562128/climate-change-warming-up-business-in-the-arctic">opening to all sorts of activity</a>. This will have serious repercussions for the local environment and the world. Everything from ships using the new trade routes to militarizing the area to the mining and the extraction of newly discovered minerals and oil <span id="goog_1084342203"></span><a href="http://www.ogj.com/articles/print/volume-112/issue-5/general-interest/full-set-of-tools-needed-for-us-arctic-spill-response-nrc-finds.html">will have potentially catastrophic effect<span id="goog_1084342204"></span>s</a>.<br /><br />A spill or other environmental disaster is going to happen in the Arctic, it is only a matter of time. While there are plenty of lists out there from organizations like the&nbsp;<a href="http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/arctic/what_we_do/oil_gas/">World Wildlife Fund</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="http://blog.oceanconservancy.org/2014/03/25/four-reasons-why-an-arctic-oil-spill-could-be-catastrophic/">Ocean Conservancy</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/Blogs/makingwaves/10-reasons-why-arctic-drilling-is-a-really-st/blog/39225/">Greenpeace</a>&nbsp;and even&nbsp;<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2010/11/arctic-oil-spill-clean-up-plans">Mother Jones</a>&nbsp;discussing why an arctic spill would be a horrible tragedy that would be impossible to clean, the real kicker is that no country in the <a href="http://www.arctic-council.org/index.php/en/">Arctic Council</a> is prepared to handle such an event (<a href="http://rt.com/news/156528-arctic-oil-spill-cleanup/">See the recent report highlighting the U.S.'s and the international oil industries inadequacies</a>).<br /><br /><h2><span style="font-size: large;">The Arctic Council</span></h2>To understand the issues, we need to familiarize ourselves with the political body set in charge of the Arctic. The territory that makes up the Arctic Circle is divided up among 6 countries; the U.S., Canada, Iceland, Norway, Greenland (Denmark), and Russia. Each country is allowed to claim 200 miles of the ocean off of their perspective coasts. These six countries make up an odd diplomatic assembly known as the Arctic Council whose responsibility it is "to provide a means for promoting cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic States, with the involvement of the Arctic Indigenous communities and other Arctic inhabitants on common Arctic issues, in particular issues of sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic."<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/12/07/sunday-review/who-owns-the-arctic.html?_r=0"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-673XbP4HQDw/U2hGnNe95yI/AAAAAAAAG_0/qmE800J6Xao/s1600/arctic.png" height="213" width="400" /></a></div><br />Diplomacy surrounding this northern jewel housing a possible 20-30% of the world's untapped energy resources <a href="http://rt.com/news/arctic-reclamation-resources-race-524/">has already begun to heat up as countries scramble</a> to stake their claims and begin the extraction process. This region, and the stakeholders involved are becoming ever more important yet, t<a href="http://www.defenseone.com/politics/2014/05/why-us-needs-ambassador-north-pole/83785/?oref=d-channelriver">he United States currently does not have a permanent ambassador to the Arctic Council</a>.<br /><br />While the Council has put together an <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/arctic-treaty-leaves-much-undecided/article579628/">Arctic Search and Rescue</a> plan that cuts through the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territorial_claims_in_the_Arctic">territorial claims and disputes in the Arctic</a>, there is currently no plan in the advent of an environmental catastrophe (with this exception of <a href="http://www.arctic-council.org/eppr/about-eppr/strategic-plan-of-action/">lose objectives</a>). No one has really answered the question, "<a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2014/04/140423-national-research-council-on-oil-spills-in-arctic/">What happens when oil spills in the Arctic?</a>"<br /><br /><h3></h3><h3></h3><h2><span style="font-size: large;">The Swimming Bear</span></h2>Russia in particular is taking a hugely aggressive stance and has topped off at <a href="http://rt.com/business/russia-arctic-development-program-400/">$63 Billion worth of investment in arctic resource extraction so far.</a> As you can see from the fantastic map created by the NY Times above, there are pockets of oil wells scattering over only a portion of the area that is yet to be explored. This is only the start.<br /><br />To hear it from <a href="http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/04/18/russia-prirazlomnoye-oil-idINL6N0NA1C720140418">Vladmir Putin</a>, "this, in essence, is the beginning of great and large-scale extraction of minerals and oil by our country, [Russia] in the Arctic."<br /><br />This "large-scale extraction" is occurring while Russia increases their<a href="http://cphpost.dk/news/greenland-and-the-arctic-the-next-ukraine.9411.html">&nbsp;Naval and Military presence in the area</a>. The United States is also concentrating on the pricey process of&nbsp;<a href="http://scandasia.com/as-the-world-warms-navy-strategists-plan-for-an-arctic-rush/">militarizing the Arctic Ocean</a>. This is all heading towards another Russian-NATO standoff.<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">“The United States is anxious to militarize the Arctic Ocean. It has to do it via its relations with Canada and it is also seeking to do it via NATO, through the participation of Norway and Denmark in NATO. And now it is calling upon Sweden and Finland to essentially join NATO with a view to establishing a NATO agenda in the Arctic,”&nbsp;<a href="http://rt.com/news/arctic-reclamation-resources-race-524/">Michel Chossudovsky, from the Centre for Research on Globalization in Montreal</a>.</blockquote>Bringing the decades old conflict between western powers and Russian influence into the arctic could be explosive. With the pressures that Russia has exerted on Europe through oil supply threats during the ongoing Ukrainian situation, the question starts to become, how <a href="http://resourceinvestingnews.com/70221-just-how-much-control-does-russia-have-over-global-oil-supplies.html">much control does Russia have over global oil supplies</a> and what is the impact of the arctic reserves?<br /><br /><h2><span style="font-size: large;">Spills and Companies</span></h2>Remember that Russia has had massive <a href="http://en.ria.ru/russia/20130727/182452614/3-Tons-of-Oil-Spills-in-Russias-Siberia.html">oil spill problems in its own cold-climate Siberia</a> and the country has already started working with companies like&nbsp;<a href="http://rt.com/business/156856-rosneft-exxonmobil-arctic-russia/">Exxon Mobil</a>&nbsp;in the Arctic. Other international oil companies have begun to partner up and have already tried to make the rules and standards surrounding&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/fp/Imperial+presses+alternatives+relief+well+measure+Arctic+undersea/9808199/story.html">oil extraction more lax in Canada</a>. Shell, who has massive spill issues&nbsp;<a href="http://rt.com/usa/shell-pipeline-oil-texas-409/">most recently in Texas</a>, has plans in the works&nbsp;<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jan/30/shell-shelves-alaskan-arctic-drilling-oil">for drilling around Alaska</a>. BP, who some may remember from the Deepwater Horizon tragedy that is <a href="http://www.chron.com/opinion/outlook/article/Kaderka-Deepwater-Horizon-disaster-continues-to-5414014.php">still affecting the Gulf of Mexico</a> and who just recently sprayed an&nbsp;<a href="http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/04/30/3432602/bp-oil-spray/">oil mist over 27 acres of Alaskan tundra</a>, has won drilling options off the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jan/03/bp-wins-first-greenland-drilling-deepwater-horizon">pristine and beautiful Greenland coast</a>.<br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/19/arctic-oil-drilling-russia"><img border="0" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Environment/Pix/columnists/2013/11/18/1384778045810/Arctic-oil-spill-pollutio-008.jpg" height="192" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /></div>Again, an arctic oil spill is only a matter of time.<br /><h3></h3><h2><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></h2><h2><span style="font-size: large;">The Hope&nbsp;</span></h2>Back in August, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/dec/19/greenpeace-arctic-30-campaign-russiahttp://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/dec/19/greenpeace-arctic-30-campaign-russia">30 Greenpeace protesters</a> boarded the Russian Prirazlomnaya arctic oil platform to try and bring world attention to the looming threat of an arctic environmental disaster. The protesters whose origins spanned the globe and whose members included the famous Russian photographer <a href="http://denissinyakov.com/">Denis Sinyakov</a>, were arrested by the Russian military on the charge of piracy and detained for months.<br /><br />It took an international tribunal and&nbsp;11 Nobel peace laureates writing to Putin, calling on him to drop the "excessive" charges of piracy, to have these <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/12/28/3105591/arctic-greenpeace-russia-released/">protesters released on bail</a>.<br /><br />When Russia started exporting Arctic oil from the Prirazlomnaya platform last week, <a href="http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/20140502/greenpeace-protesters-greet-first-barrels-arctic-oil">Greenpeace was there again</a>. This time it was <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/may/01/greenpeace-russian-arctic-oil-tanker">the Dutch who arrested the protesters</a>, only to be released a few hours after being towed to Rotterdam with no charges.<br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><div style="text-align: center;">WATCH - Rainbow Warrior vs. Arctic oil: <a href="http://t.co/rlWTx1LbM5">http://t.co/rlWTx1LbM5</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/gp_warrior">@gp_warrior</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NoArcticOil&amp;src=hash">#NoArcticOil</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">— Greenpeace (@Greenpeace) <a href="https://twitter.com/Greenpeace/statuses/462174034474852353">May 2, 2014</a></div></blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> Greenpeace is <a href="http://www.maritime-executive.com/article/Greenpeace-and-the-Future-of-Maritime-Protests-2014-05-03/">changing the maritime political landscape</a> with their activities and it is amazing to watch. The trouble is that since they are fighting against the interests of major nations and international corporations, they can only do so much.<br /><br />A simple solution to the pending geo-political and environmental disaster is to stop our oil addiction. It will be a slow process but the more we divest from oil and revert that money towards alternative energies, the less this tense situation, and powder kegs like those in the middle eastern countries, become relevant.<br /><br />We, as a species, need to come together and push for energy that won't destroy our future. I call on anyone who reads this to petition the Arctic Council and their own leadership for sanity. The best possible solution would be to declare the polar regions <a href="http://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/take-action/marine-protected-areas/">Marine Protected Areas</a> with used designated solely for science.<br /><br /><br />Andrew Kornblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17006069193232411653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110763491746806640.post-58663940739857079912014-04-08T12:43:00.001-07:002014-04-08T14:09:55.711-07:00Controlling the Market - Disruptive Technology at Risk<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Supreme Court handed down a monumental decision last week on the relationship between money and politics. The ruling in </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> removed the overall limit on contributions from the wealthiest donors to candidates and political parties while <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/07/supreme-court-corruption_n_5093485.html">setting a precedent of ridiculously specific conditions</a> that have to be met before declaring an action “corruption.” </span></span></span></div><span style="background-color: #274e13;"><span style="color: white;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-29ccf4e5-4011-091a-aa05-d1e1a81ca82a" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i2.wp.com/blogs.rollcall.com/hawkings/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2014/04/scotus-067-100813.jpg?resize=445%2C296" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i2.wp.com/blogs.rollcall.com/hawkings/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2014/04/scotus-067-100813.jpg?resize=445%2C296" height="212" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: #274e13;"><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></span><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This move comes three years after Citizens United which opened the floodgates for a torrent of dark money to enter into the political arena. If you will recall the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United </span><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“effectively freed corporations and unions to spend money" both on "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_United_v._Federal_Election_Commission#Majority_opinion">electioneering communications" and to directly advocate for the election or defeat of candidates.</a>”</span><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br /><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #274e13;"><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> In a world where money is representative of “Free Speech” and corporate entities or “citizen associations” have the same free speech rights as flesh and blood citizens, we are moving towards an Oligarchical Plutocracy - a society ruled by and for the wealthy. The more money I have, the more speech I have. This effectively removes any concept of equality from the American system. While I have covered this in the past and the media is very interested in <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/02/supreme-court-mccutcheon-decision_n_5077549.html">the implications of this move</a>, I am fearful of what is on the horizon for our technology and innovation. </span><br /><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: #274e13;"><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While the Supreme Court has recently turned away an <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/07/us-usa-court-election-idUSBREA360XH20140407">opportunity to further chip away at the campaign finance laws</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">it may only be a matter of time before more actions are taken to allow for more direct input on the political system by agencies such as unions, PACs and Corporations. The problem with allowing companies with that much control and influence in the political game is that it destroys the safeguards for public citizens. In the end, traditionally corporations have only one interest, benefiting the future of the company and the return to their shareholders - the bottom line. &nbsp;</span></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #274e13;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But why is this dangerous for future innovation? Let's indulge in a thought experiment. <a href="http://www.pwc.com/gx/en/technology/pdf/How-governments-foster-innovation.pdf" style="line-height: 1.15; text-decoration: none;">Imagine that you have invented something that is literally going to change </a></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the world as we know it. This invention will not only make you a ton of money and build a company, but it will start a new boom of an entire industry, make like easier and better for humanity and possibly even destroying another industry. <a href="http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/disruptive-technology">This is what is known as disruptive technology</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/Disruptivetechnology.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/Disruptivetechnology.gif" height="242" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: #274e13;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: #274e13;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just like the refrigerator replaced the icebox and the car replaced the horse and buggy, technologies will arise that will outmode a previous technology and the industry surrounding it. Industries rise and fall, but in some instances, the government will step in to try and salvage industry or even support it <a href="http://www.pwc.com/gx/en/technology/pdf/How-governments-foster-innovation.pdf">through subsidies and incentive programs</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Those who have control over industry will seek any way to maintain that control over that industry. <a href="http://www.project-disco.org/competition/080713-a-brief-history-of-disruptive-innovation-part-i/">This is just a historical fact</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></span></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: #274e13;"><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.15; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are still seeing business interests and corporate entities try to stifle innovation and competition today. Everything from <a href="http://www.wired.com/2013/07/patent-law-broken-abused-to-stifle-innovation/">gaming the way our patent system works</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.15; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to car dealership groups pressing <a href="http://www.cnet.com/news/new-jersey-joins-arizona-and-texas-in-tesla-sales-ban/">Texas and New Jersey governments to ban sales of Tesla</a> and t</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.15; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">axicab groups in D.C. trying to <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-dc-taxicab-commissions-uber-problem/2013/08/26/a0538428-0b38-11e3-9941-6711ed662e71_story.html">push out Uber</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.15; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17.25px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Each of these businesses are using whatever systems they can to maintain their dominant role. For those familiar with the Sacramento area, back in <a href="http://www.davisvanguard.org/pge-spends-9-million-on-anti-smud-campaign/">2006 energy conglomerate PG&amp;E spent $9 Million on a campaign</a> to make sure that the public utility SMUD couldn't expand their coverage to some areas of Yolo County. The effort was to keep their monopoly hold on the area as the only energy provider. It was completely legal. </span></span></span></div><span style="background-color: #274e13;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: #274e13;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">These types of efforts almost cost the world </span><a href="http://www.damninteresting.com/the-tragic-birth-of-fm-radio/" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">FM Radio</a><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and</span> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_Currents" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">AC Power</a> <span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">among other great innovations. Some say it through stifling practices that we currently don't have better </span><a href="http://www.whokilledtheelectriccar.com/" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">electric vehicle technology</a><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in the world. Even with equalizing tools for innovation like <a href="http://gigaom.com/2011/05/25/why-kickstarter-works/">Kickstarter </a>or the <a href="http://techshop.ws/TheMakerMovementManifesto.html">Maker Movement</a>, there is plenty of room to worry.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: #274e13;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: #274e13;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">My concern is that, the more corporations become political players and able to throw huge money around to protect their interests the harder it will be for new technologies and innovations to really shake things up. This is something that even those on more of a conservative side of the argument should be worried about. It is a scenario that will itch at the back of my mind while I pay close attention to the future of decisions like these. </span></span></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: #274e13;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span>Andrew Kornblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17006069193232411653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110763491746806640.post-28900435331896068122014-04-03T20:30:00.001-07:002014-04-04T07:57:43.421-07:00An Open Letter Response to Charles Koch<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Dear Mr. Koch, </span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">When I read your</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <a href="http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303978304579475860515021286?mg=reno64-wsj&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702303978304579475860515021286.html">letter to the American people in the Wall Street Journal</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">, I felt I had to respond. I am not doing this because I think you will actually read these words or that, in the end, this letter will make that much of a difference to you if you do. I had to point out the insult in your opinion piece. I had to do this because, in this age where money now equates to speech, I had to throw as much “free” speech into this conversation as I could.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2014/04/charles-koch-critics-koch-brothers-105336.html"><img border="0" src="http://images.politico.com/global/2014/04/03/charles_koch_ap_328.jpg" height="216" width="400" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">You, your brother, and others like you represent a huge, ever widening divide in America. In a land whose origins rested on equality and stories of individuals pulling themselves up by their bootstraps to become successful, you represent an affront to the American dream. &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">In your opinion piece, you reference Thomas Jefferson as a historical perspective to support your views on limited government, in justification of your efforts for a “free America." I offer my counter. On the subject of wealth inequalities, Jefferson wrote;</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">“I am conscious that an equal division of property is impracticable. But the consequences of this enormous inequality producing so much misery to the bulk of mankind, legislators cannot invent too many devices for subdividing property, only taking care to let their subdivisions go hand in hand with the natural affections of the human mind. Another means of silently lessening the inequality of property is to exempt all from taxation below a certain point, and to tax the higher portions of property in geometrical progression as they rise. <b>Whenever there is in any country, uncultivated lands and unemployed poor, it is clear that the laws of property have been so far extended as to violate natural right.</b> The earth is given as a common stock for man to labor and live on.” </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><a href="http://goo.gl/wFUh80"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thomas Jefferson</span><span id="goog_227547502"></span><span id="goog_227547503"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></a></blockquote><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Thomas Jefferson, was writing to James Madison about the gross inequalities of wealth he observed in pre-Revolution France. His observations there led him to realize that the massive accumulation of wealth and gross inequality of its distribution represented a danger to the American people.&nbsp;</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">You are worth roughly $40 billion, 365 thousand times more than the median American family. You and your brother were born into wealth from your father’s oil company and your grandfather’s railroad and newspaper businesses. Through the efforts of organizations like the CATO institute, the Heritage Fund, and Americans for Prosperity, you hold immense political power and influence. You even hold enough sway that you can </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17.25px; white-space: pre-wrap;">elicit</span> </span><a href="http://www.noclimatetax.com/the-pledge/" style="font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.15; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">the exact type of political mandate on things like climate taxes</a> <span style="color: white; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.15; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">that you rail against in your op-ed</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.15; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.15; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The reach of your political network extends to push for massive, ecologically damaging projects for your own benefit like the</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/21/keystone-xl-koch-brothers_n_4136491.html">XL Keystone Pipeline</a></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">and</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <a href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/04/01/koch-brothers-group-trying-to-derail-mass-transit-project-in-tennessee/">derailing mass transit efforts</a></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">You are also connected to efforts to </span><a href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2011/11/11117/koch-funded-alec-agenda-works-deny-voting-rights-brave-new-film-highlights-voter-">limit voting rights</a></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">,</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">and</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <a href="http://www.mintpressnews.com/koch-brothers-already-accused-of-corruption-in-2014-elections/187760/" style="background-color: transparent;">even corruption</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: #274e13;">. Instead of going into depth on these subjects <a href="http://www.thegreenprogressive.com/search/label/Koch%20Brothers">like I have in the past</a>, I really want you to understand one thing. </span></span></span></div><b id="docs-internal-guid-0ca8e6a2-2ab9-cca1-e7f6-23a5358532cc" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br /><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">In your piece you hail the tenets of, </span><span style="line-height: 19.166667938232422px; white-space: pre-wrap;">among</span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"> other things, “equality before the law” but the truth is that there is no equality in America. Those who hold unfathomably massive wealth also hold far more influence on, and have access to, unequal levels of our political infrastructure. </span></span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">You and your brother are so far </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpLfQvRmf2E&amp;feature=youtu.be">removed from the actual American experience</a> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">that you represent what is wrong with our country and where it is headed. A government run for the interests of the wealthy and the corporations in which they have interest. This Plutocracy that represents your vision of a future filled with “freedom” is so far from the American dream that it is a disgusting insult when you try to press your vision on the rest of us by twisting the words of a founding father. </span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17.25px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Koch name will go down in history as a warning against the oily, slimy influence that corporatists can have on our country. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The more the American people become aware of your influence, and the influence of those who have gained from Citizens United and subsequent rulings, the more</span> <a href="http://www.thenation.com/blog/179178/resounding-vote-against-koch-brothers-dollarocracy#">we will fight you</a> <span style="color: white;">and fight for our future. We will fight for future for all of the American people and not just the 1%. </span></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>Andrew Kornblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17006069193232411653noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110763491746806640.post-29420078635145042602014-03-17T18:13:00.004-07:002014-03-17T18:13:59.494-07:00The Science Communications Revolution - using the tools and picking your battlesThe world of science and science communication is changing. This is something that we have seen in action at events like <a href="http://www.thegreenprogressive.com/2014/03/why-you-should-be-paying-attention-to.html">Science Online</a>, <span id="goog_245395715"></span><a href="http://lssp.missouri.edu/decodingscience">Decoding Scienc<span id="goog_245395716"></span>e</a> and through the invention of tools that break down the walls between the realms of Science and the Layperson.<br /><br />We as a society are growing towards a world where every citizen is a citizen scientist with a pocket tri-corder in the form of a smart device. In this world each citizen takes it upon themselves to capture data in the form of pictures, hashtagged posts, lat-long mapped points-of-interest and even qualitative first-person accounts of existence.<br /><br />We are currently living in a world where tools already exists that allow anyone to speak directly, in real time, to their favorite experts, celebrities or <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Epdz2ySd3hE">even astronauts in orbit</a>&nbsp;from the comfort of their own home. In an instant we can have our fingers on any publicly available data from almost any field with detailed analysis. To a certain extent, we can instantly answer almost any question we can think of.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/22/neil-degrasse-tyson-cosmos-video-carl-sagan_n_3636308.html"><img border="0" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1257803/thumbs/o-NEIL-DEGRASSE-TYSON-COSMOS-facebook.jpg" height="167" width="400" /></a></div><br />Neil DeGrasse Tyson's reboot of Carl Sagan's "Cosmos" dropped its second episode this last Sunday. Tyson’s popularity has skyrocketed to the forefront of American attention through his appearances in popular media like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWutdPGYcEg">the Daily Show</a>, <a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/270038/april-08-2010/neil-degrasse-tyson">the Colbert Report</a> and even <a href="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2012/11/5/1352136137572/Superman-and-Neil-deGrass-008.jpg">Superman comics</a>. Before his version of Cosmos debuted, Tyson described, in a <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/events/c8m245s5plhaqjplitnlfbebj44">Google Plus Hangout on Air</a>, this rising tide in the popularity of science and ease of scientists to reach larger populations as “<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAQzk0Tke1M&amp;feature=share&amp;t=1h1m52s">the main-streeming of science which is a watershed shift in how our culture is thinking about it.</a>” <br /><br />As the expanse of human knowledge and experience grows, the need to directly connect on and educate science increases. The necessity to gain the attention of audiences in this social media and 24-hour-news-cycle driven world where people’s attention span is hair-thin grows ever important. There is a growing swell of scientists that are learning the tricks and trades of hitting that mark. Utilizing both new media and tried and true methods, science is making a break for the front monitor of the public’s view.<br /><br />At conferences, like those mentioned above, scientists are being taught how to use social tools and storytelling techniques to better communicate. These scientist learn how to translate things like "uncertainty" and "consensus" into a 140 character world where stories resonate more true than hard data. There is one lesson that really needs to be hit home, pick your battles.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/z6kgvhG3AkI" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />Earlier in February, Bill Nye, the well known TV science guy, who educated millions of kids and teens on some basic science in the late 90s, debated renowned Creationist and ant-evolutionist Ken Ham on the merits of Creationism as a scientific and teachable model.<br /><br />While some <a href="http://www.richarddawkins.net/foundation_articles/2014/1/16/why-bill-nye-shouldn-t-debate-ken-ham">warned against the debate</a>&nbsp;or called it <a href="http://www.westernherald.com/opinion/opinion-bill-nye-ken-ham-debate-a-waste-of-time/">a waste of time</a>&nbsp;and others still called it a "<a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/02/05/the-bill-nye-ken-ham-debate-was-a-nightmare-for-science.html">Nightmare for Science</a>" in the opinion of this humble observer, this was a stroke of brilliance for Bill and the popularization of the scientific community.<br /><br />Going into the debate, both sides knew two things, they would not be able to convince their opponent of their viewpoint or change their counter-part’s mind and that they both could use the opportunity to broadcast their positions to a wider audience. Ken Ham used the opportunity to pander to the Biblically observant through jokes about the Bible being “the answer” for all questions and to press forward a strange theory that the laws of physics changed drastically in the last 5000 years or so. He even got a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/01/kentucky-noahs-ark-ken-ham_n_4876282.html?ir=Politics">public push</a>&nbsp;to raise funds to <a href="http://nation.time.com/2014/02/28/bill-nye-inadvertently-rescued-creationist-noahs-ark/">build a replica of NOAH’s Ark</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.salon.com/2014/02/06/92_percent_say_bill_nye_won_in_christian_today_poll/"><img border="0" src="http://media.salon.com/2012/10/Bill_Nye-620x412.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />Bill Nye used a small section of the debate to give some basic science lessons about the universe, dating and scientific reasoning to counter Ken’s complaints with evolution, but for much of the debate, he grew the conversation to something greater. Bill knew that this was not going to be an “Inherit the Wind” situation, he knew that he was in “enemy territory” and, being a man who was in the process of attempting a comeback to a larger market-share of American culture through public climate-change debates and televised dancing, Bill wanted this debate to hit larger targets. For a significant portion of the debate, Bill Nye turned the conversation to the need for better public education and science funding. He highlighted the fact that if you wanted a degree in Radio-Carbon Dating or certain fields that required certain types of science in Kentucky, you needed to search elsewhere. Bill Nye turned the debate into a call to action to the people of Kentucky, and abroad, to vote for science.<br /><br />While Neil deGrasse Tyson has come out recently as saying that <a href="http://www.salon.com/2014/03/14/neil_degrasse_tyson_on_climate_deniers_those_who_think_they_can_cherry_pick_science_simply_dont_understand_how_science_works/">debating Climate-Change deniers is not worth his time</a>, this wasn't always the case as he had previously clashed words on programs like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Klgp_qDiRhQ">Real Time with Bill Maher</a>. In truth, Tyson is picking his battles here and allowing his amazing shiny new program Cosmos to throw down the gauntlet against those who would "<a href="http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/03/10/3384351/neil-degrasse-tyson-science-deniers/">pick and choose science</a>" and even those who would try to <a href="http://www.thewire.com/culture/2014/03/neil-degrasse-tyson-addresses-creationists-evolution-fears-cosmos/359223/">decry evolution</a>.<br /><br />What we have to keep in mind is that we are living in a world where trying to gain the public's attention on any really important issue is a Sisyphean effort. Rolling that rock up gets you the groundswell and "virility" to get your 15-seconds. Most of the time it feels like just that. As soon as you get your chance to gain the focus of a post MTV world, the next story is about to be disclosed and you don't want to miss it because that story will change your LIFE!<br /><br />The lesson here is that picking this battle turned Bill's passion for science to a national discussion topic. Bill Nye, Tyson and more scientists every day are part of a rising movement. The scientific community, who knows what the lessons of evolution can teach, are trying to reach a wide audience through new tools and tactics. Scientists, conservationists and educators are learning to adapt and that is good for everyone.Andrew Kornblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17006069193232411653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110763491746806640.post-1992563315353045272014-03-01T18:23:00.000-08:002014-03-01T19:49:15.360-08:00Why you should be paying attention to #scio14 (and why I am sad I couldn't go).The last few days I have been watching, in amazement, <a href="http://scienceonline.com/">ScienceOnline</a> unfold. After recommendations fro friends and colleagues at places like <a href="http://www.techsoup.org/">TechSoup</a> and <a href="http://www.upwell.us/">Upwell</a> I started to pay attention to this conference. While watching I started to long to attend this festival. After having attended everything from the <a href="http://www.thegreenprogressive.com/2012/10/the-blue-ocean-film-festival-or-how-to.html">BLUE Ocean Film Festival</a>, Solar Conventions in San Jose, <a href="http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2011/08/view-from-summit-celebrating-geo-users.html">Geography Conferences through Google</a>, <a href="http://www.thegreenprogressive.com/2013/08/outside-lands-music-festivals-and.html">Outside Land's Greenspace</a>, and <a href="http://www.thegreenprogressive.com/2013/10/south-by-south-west-eco-2013-part-1.html">SXSW Eco</a> I have to admit, I am an addict.<br /><br />I love these coming of the minds that links science and nature and communication. Ignoring the instant buzz you get from so much activity and so many people that you would find at any conference, these eco-tech-media ones feel like a type of science camp where you meet tons of people who grow excited about similar things to you.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://together.scienceonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2013/10/ScionlineTogether_horiz_500x123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://together.scienceonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2013/10/ScionlineTogether_horiz_500x123.jpg" height="95" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />ScienceOnline is almost like the king of all of these conferences. It gets to the heart of one question that runs through the entirety of these events. At every conference I have gone to the conversation of how science can communicate easier and more efficiently to a more massive audience comes up.<br /><br />Just read their mission:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">ScienceOnline’s mission is to cultivate the ways science is conducted, shared, and communicated online. We bring together a diverse and growing group of researchers, science writers, artists, programmers, and educators —those who conduct or communicate science online– for meaningful face-to-face conversations around timely, relevant issues. We nurture this global, ongoing, online community and facilitate collaborations which would not have been previously possible. The goal of all this is better science communication within the science community, with the public, and with policymakers.&nbsp;</blockquote>Makes me giddy just reading it, they help scientists make people more educated on complex issues and more effectively communicate. &nbsp;It is at ScienceOnline where ideas like <a href="http://www.upwell.us/shark-week-2012-how-drive-shark-conversation-without-jumping-it">scientists piggybacking on #sharkweek</a> get generated. David "Why Sharks Matter" Schiffman <a href="http://www.thegreenprogressive.com/2013/08/jumping-shark-week-shark.html">learned this lesson well</a> and is now one of the most popular active Ocean and Shark scientists online. I have been following his posts on ScienceOnline and it has been torturous. <br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23scioresearch&amp;src=hash">#scioresearch</a> notes by <a href="https://twitter.com/experrinment">@experrinment</a> <a href="http://t.co/SUK3juCXTo">pic.twitter.com/SUK3juCXTo</a><br />— David Shiffman (@WhySharksMatter) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhySharksMatter/statuses/439501115311534080">February 28, 2014</a></blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> <br />There are panels on how to <a href="http://sched.co/1br2A5i">collaborate on projects through the internet</a>, how to <a href="http://scio14.sched.org/event/239cb5a1d06efd4ad77b99ca45762dab?iframe=no&amp;w=100&amp;sidebar=yes&amp;bg=no#.UxKTMEtX_Ww">communicate the very complex concept of uncertainty on social media</a>&nbsp;and how to <a href="http://together.scienceonline.com/scio14-schedule/">build online communities</a>. <br /><br />And it is all <a href="http://scienceonline.com/live/">streaming LIVE</a>.<br /><br />I want to go and learn and discuss and connect and share. Next year, ScienceOnline, next year. I mean who doesn't want to go to an "Intergalactic Gala?"<br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">Intergalactic Gala attendees: there's a cash bar for everything except beer and wine. Those are free!&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23scio14&amp;src=hash">#scio14</a><br />— ScienceOnline (@ScienceOnline)&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/ScienceOnline/statuses/439544300842807296">February 28, 2014</a></blockquote><br />This is a convention that will teach anyone in a complicated field how to create what is known as "digestible content." As one who works in communications, the environment and with a lot of very well educated scientists helping them communicate easier and more effectively with the tools available online this is a very important meeting of the minds. This meeting is, in my humble opinion, part of a growing movement that could change the way the world is connected with science.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://instagram.com/p/k-jmdbkePN/"><img border="0" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/aff8878a244e96841b836defa2107f5f/tumblr_n1qldgexxf1qdpbx3o1_1280.jpg" height="296" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://instagram.com/p/k-jmdbkePN/">I mean, do THESE scientists know how to work it? Or what?&nbsp;</a></div><br /><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>Andrew Kornblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17006069193232411653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110763491746806640.post-73968510579494907752014-02-12T15:59:00.000-08:002014-06-25T15:24:12.226-07:00Top 3 CEO's that are real-life James Bond VillainsI have been covering <a href="http://www.thegreenprogressive.com/2013/11/the-vilification-of-green-market.html">the vilification of the green industry</a> recently and found through &nbsp;my research that part of that vilification was a direct comparison of Tesla, Space-X and Solar City's Elon Musk to a <a href="http://www.valuewalk.com/2013/10/tesla-motors-inc-tsla-ceo-elon-musk-bond-villain/">James Bond Super Villian</a>, to which I cried foul in my last piece.<br /><br />The more I have been looking into other companies and their CEOs the more I found much better examples of those who fit the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SPECTRE">S.P.E.C.T.R.E. profile</a>. The following is a quick list of my top 3 CEOs that would more appropriately be labeled villainous to the James Bondian level.<br /><br /><h3><span style="font-size: large;">3. Rupert Murdoch</span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/600501/thumbs/r-MURDOCH-large570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/600501/thumbs/r-MURDOCH-large570.jpg" height="133" width="320" /></a></div><div>You cannot read a right-leaning newspaper or watch a conservative leaning news channel without tripping over something that Rupert Murdoch has organized or orchestrated. Currently he controls at least 1/5th of the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/media/organgrinder/2010/dec/30/murdoch-to-control-22percent">news in the UK</a> and is constantly trying to expand and even kill efforts for access to more information like Australia's <a href="http://yro.slashdot.org/story/13/08/04/069210/rupert-murdoch-wants-to-destroy-australias-national-broadband-network">National Broadband Network</a>.<br /><br />The founder of the American Right's "Propaganda Factory" Fox News is a modern day William Randolph Hearst in his massive ownership of media world-wide and, like the media barons of old, he has also used the position to create a platform for his own agenda, like influencing US, UK and <a href="http://mediamatters.org/blog/2013/09/06/when-rupert-murdoch-takes-over-your-country/195755">Australian politics</a> to push the national discourse to a more conservative agenda. His organizations are under investigation for numerous phone hacking scandals including <a href="http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/12/19/uk-britain-hacking-kate-idUKBRE9BI0JO20131219">British Royalty</a>, <a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/332566/brad-pitt-and-angelina-jolie-named-as-victims-in-news-of-the-world-phone-hacking-scandal">Brangelina</a>, <a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0711/59405_Page3.html">9/11 victims</a> and even a poor, <a href="http://newsone.com/1366355/fox-news-rupert-murdochs-news-of-the-world-milly-dowler-phone-hacking/">murdered girl's phone</a>. Rupert even went so far as calling his victims "<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/15/rupert-murdoch-twitter-phone-hacking-victims-scumbags_n_1966509.html?utm_hp_ref=rupert-murdoch">scumbags</a>." This is apparently a culture that Murdoch makes sure <a href="http://m.newsbusters.org/blogs/tim-graham/2013/10/22/npr-media-reporter-sells-his-new-book-exposing-murdoch-and-cruelty-his-j">permeates his organization</a>.<br /><br />Murdoch's organization is suspected to have conducted shady deals with the US Government, pressuring the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/jun/15/rupert-murdoch-tony-blair-iraq-alastair-campbell">UK Government</a>&nbsp;into war&nbsp;and even <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/caught-on-tape-news-corp-boss-rupert-murdoch-reveals-what-he-really-thinks-about-bribing-public-officials-8686260.html">bribery</a>. His conservative stranglehold over a large portion of the world political dialog not being enough, Rupert continues to push for even more control through<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/25/business/media/murdochs-appetite-for-los-angeles-times-may-depend-on-fcc-changes.html"> political and regulatory battles</a>.<br /><br />To top it off, News Corp is a <a href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/05/11531/rupert-murdochs-news-corp-alec-member">member of ALEC</a>, whose <a href="http://www.thegreenprogressive.com/2013/12/alec-what-koch-brothers-and-google-have.html">shadiness I have already gone over.</a><br /><br /></div><div>All of these points come together to form the image of a man who doesn't want to promote the news and isn't just looking for more money. This is a man who wants to dominate world information and color the national discourse of countries to shape their future in their own image creating a culture of "anything goes" including bribery, hacking, theft and outright lying. Sounds something worthy of a member of the James Bond's Rouges Gallery, specifically <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomorrow_Never_Dies">Elliot Carver from Tomorrow Never Dies</a>. Is he actually evil? Well, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/10/rupert-murdoch-crossword-puzzle-evil_n_4417969.html">there are some hints</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2013/november/1383224400/robert-manne/why-rupert-murdoch-can-t-be-stopped">For more about Mr. Murdoch and his Global Takeover attempts, read here.</a>&nbsp;</div><h3><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></h3><h3><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></h3><h3><span style="font-size: large;">2. Nestle's&nbsp;Peter Brabeck-Letmathe</span></h3><div>Water is not a human right, it is a resource that needs to be mined, bottled and sold for a major profit, even if that comes at the cost of an entire country or eventually makes the situation worse. That seems to be the opinion of the CEO of Nestle, , and no matter what <a href="http://www.nestle.com/aboutus/ask-nestle/answers/nestle-chairman-peter-brabeck-letmathe-believes-water-is-a-human-right">Nestle's PR spin on it is currently</a>, these are the words that he publicly put out there on the subject. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/SEFL8ElXHaU/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/SEFL8ElXHaU&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/SEFL8ElXHaU&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div><br /><br />Fresh, clean water is a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/george-mcgraw/nestle-chairman-peter-brabeck-water_b_3150150.html">declared right by the U.N</a>. Instead of coming to solutions to the looming freshwater crisis, <a href="http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/04/15/the_next_big_thing_h20">which most companies dealing in the stuff are aware of</a>, Brabeck-Letmathe sees an opportunity to make a quick billion or ten though the <a href="http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-privatisation-of-water-nestle-denies-that-water-is-a-fundamental-human-right/5332238">international privatization of water</a>. Did you know that the water you drink out of plastic bottles is coming straight from the <a href="http://www.bottledlifefilm.com/index.php/the-story.html">aquifer of Pakistan</a>? Coca-Cola and other companies exploit water resources in similar way with a few evil exceptions like&nbsp;<a href="http://www.worldcrunch.com/poisoning-well-nestl-accused-exploiting-water-supplies-bottled-brands/business-finance/poisoning-the-well-nestl-accused-of-exploiting-water-supplies-for-bottled-brands/c2s4503/#.Uvrs9ktX_Wx">refusing affected villages’ request for clean water to be piped in after Nestle has made their own water undrinkable</a>. &nbsp;</div><div><br />This is unbridled Capitalism gone a muck. The <a href="http://urbantimes.co/2013/06/nestle-the-global-search-for-liquid-gold/">race to privatize the world's fresh water supply</a> is one that will ultimately end in our ruin (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tank_Girl_(film)">see Water &amp; Power via distopic future movie Tank Girl</a>). Even if we have found <a href="https://www.blogger.com/ocean%20http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/12/131208085304.htm">massive amounts of fresh water under areas of the ocean</a>, it is going to take money, effort and possible environmental damage to extract and disperse it. Obviously companies like Nestle, and other companies, will attempt to control that supply as well for their own profit.<br /><br />Who else wanted to privatize and control water resources?&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_of_Solace">Quantum of Solace's Dominic Greene</a>&nbsp;and, honestly, I am not the first one to compare <a href="http://beyoungandshutup.com/2013/10/23/nestles-ceo-is-a-james-bond-villain/">Peter Brabeck-Letmathe to a James Bond Villain</a>. The shoe seems to fit really perfectly here.&nbsp;</div><div><br /><br /></div><h3><span style="font-size: large;">1. Koch Brothers</span></h3><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.motherjones.com/files/imagecache/top-of-content-main/koch_bros.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.motherjones.com/files/imagecache/top-of-content-main/koch_bros.jpg" height="221" width="400" /></a></div><br />If you have read my blog, you are already familiar with the <a href="http://www.thegreenprogressive.com/search/label/Koch%20Brothers">Koch Brothers</a> and the dangers they create for the American citizenry and the world in general. While others have made the comparisons between these silver-spoon fed oil barons with the "old money" <a href="http://www.rifuture.org/real-koch-bros-worse-than-trading-places-duke-bros.html">Duke Brothers from Trading Places</a>&nbsp;the extent of their activities and their influence on US and Global Politics and even science makes their evil on a Bondian level.<br /><br />The brothers are two of the richest people in the United States and run&nbsp;Koch Industries, the second-largest privately held company in the United States.Their<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_activities_of_the_Koch_brothers"> political activities</a> have landed them in the spot light of public scrutiny though they apparently like to operate in the shadows. They are on the radar of every major climate group including <a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/campaigns/global-warming-and-energy/polluterwatch/koch-industries/">Greenpeace</a>.<br /><br />We all have heard about their activities aggressively funding <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/01/koch-brothers-climate-change_n_3530397.html">climate-change denial</a>&nbsp;and their influence on <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/01/koch-brothers-climate-change_n_3530397.html">government officials</a> in that regard, but it goes further. As an almost cartoonist level of <a href="http://www.wbur.org/2012/07/03/koch-brothers">unbelievably typical corporate "fat-cat" behavior</a>, the brothers have waged war on <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/10/19/2806521/billionaire-koch-brothers-spending-millions-deny-health-coverage-income-americans/">public health care</a>, the <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2013/10/16/insani-tea-reigns-koch-brothers-fail-to-control-the-monster-they-created/">Tea Party</a>, the <a href="http://ourfuture.org/fact_sheet/koch-brothers-exposed-why-we-must-act-and-how">middle and lower classes</a>&nbsp;and even <a href="http://www.politicususa.com/2013/10/04/bernie-sanders-explains-koch-brothers-keeping-government-shut.html">the government itself</a>&nbsp;through the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-zuesse/how-the-koch-brothers-did_1_b_4143928.html">shutdown that they, in part, orchestrated</a>.<br /><br />What makes them truly worth of the Bond Villain title? They are waging war on the less fortunate and on the science that is trying to make our future livable all in the name of profit. Through placing key people at key conservative positions, <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/02/koch-brothers-palm-springs-donor-list">like within the organization Americans For Prosperity</a>, the brothers make sure that their business interests come first in the political discourse of the right. Through the campaigns they try to subvert (<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/06/daily-show-music-man-koch-bros_n_4736955.html">even small local ones</a>) they grasp to control the government, much like S.P.E.C.T.R.E These two and their behavior represents the fear-as-reality of the wealthy trying to buy the government, subvert the common man and even put the public in danger for the protection of their business interests.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.thepinkflamingoblog.com/2013/03/13/koch-head-nation/">And, once again, I am not the first make this comparison</a>.&nbsp;</div><div><br /><br /><br /><br />So, before we start comparing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Giving_Pledge">Richard Branson, Warren Buffett or Elon Musk</a> to something evil and torrid, take a close look at who the people are that are casting these&nbsp;dispersions and who is trying to make our futures better.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Andrew Kornblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17006069193232411653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110763491746806640.post-35396639482847413012013-12-06T07:00:00.000-08:002014-03-16T20:24:20.217-07:00ALEC - What the Koch Brothers and Google have in common.<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>In the Belly of a Luxurious Hotel</u></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is a cabal of corporations, right wing politicians from the State and Federal levels, and the financial elite who have been operating from the shadows since 1973. ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council, is a Political Action Committee <a href="http://www.kansascity.com/2013/12/03/4666825/alec-sought-a-loyalty-oath-from.html">complete with loyalty oath</a></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> but, unlike most lobbying entities, the membership of ALEC is secret and what they do is technically not publicly disclosed.</span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-04bd0df8-c651-34f5-6cfb-143575204015" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Their official goals are to “advance the fundamental principles of free-market enterprise, limited government, and federalism at the state level.” What they really get involved in is</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <a href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2011/05/10711/voter-suppression-bills-sweep-country">voter suppression,</a> <a href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2013/10/12270/officials-arizona-and-kansas-rig-ballots-implement-alec-voter-suppression-scheme">possible vote tampering,</a> curtailing of <a href="http://www.popularresistance.org/documents-reveal-alecs-looming-attacks-on-environmental-regulations/">environmental regulations</a>, keeping wages low, &nbsp;privatization of schools and pushing for a corporatist agenda in the name of “Freedom from Big Government.” </span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2013/12/05/next-up-for-alec-taming-the-federal-government/"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/files/2013/12/20070726-2_p072607cg-0210-515h.jpg" height="258" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amongst their array of tools, ALEC does this through influencing State and Federal politics and holding legislative workshops and giant conventions. Legislators are flown out on company jets to these conventions, usually held at the most luxurious hotels. For 3 days corporate lobbyists and the financial big-wigs wine, dine, and buddy up with these elected officials to work on pro-corporate tailored legislation. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They have just started day 3 of their most recent convention, just after their <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ISLRYKRCE0#t=107">40 year anniversary</a></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In my mind this convention is like the anti-SXSW Eco conference. Instead of trying to find solutions to environmental problems, the ALEC meetings are trying to find ways of <a href="http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/ahaq/alec_preparing_attacks_on_epa.html">gutting the EPA</a></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, protecting their most <a href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2013/11/12297/alec-forges-new-bills-its-polluting-company-members">polluting members</a> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and ways of not having to pay for <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/04/chevron-alec-endangered-species-act_n_4380392.html?utm_hp_ref=green&amp;ir=Green">killing off a species</a></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. I see them sitting around panel discussions sharing ideas on how to <a href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/12/04/conservative-group-alec-pushes-stealth-tax-on-homeowners-who-install-solar-panels/">curtail solar power</a><span id="goog_1894705879"></span><span id="goog_1894705880"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a> and even <a href="http://wonkette.com/535723/hero-lobby-group-alec-seeks-to-tax-sunshine">tax the sun</a>.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> One can even imagine them cursing their <a href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2013/12/12329/newly-uncovered-documents-expose-alec%E2%80%99s-anti-gay-past">past losses in gay rights</a></span><a href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2013/12/12329/newly-uncovered-documents-expose-alec%E2%80%99s-anti-gay-past" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and "stand your ground" over overpriced bourbon in darkened smoke-filled rooms. </span></span><br /><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://youthinkwhat.com/now/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/dt.common.streams.StreamServer.cls_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="http://youthinkwhat.com/now/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/dt.common.streams.StreamServer.cls_.jpg" height="278" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>A Little Background</u></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The history of ALEC starts with, Paul Weyrich, who also founded the Heritage Foundation and the Moral Majority. This is a gentleman who is one of the founding fathers of modern conservative Religious Right movement and publicly stated that he <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GBAsFwPglw">didn’t want people to actually vote</a> and worked to “<a href="http://www.talk2action.org/story/2013/10/8/132658/236/">Christianize America” with Ted Cruz</a>.</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In researching this organization I was shocked to see one company in the ranks of members. Through leaked documents it was revealed that joining the ranks of <a href="http://www.thenation.com/article/161973/alec-exposed-koch-connection">Koch industries</a>, <a href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/05/11531/rupert-murdochs-news-corp-alec-member">Rupert Murdoch</a>, and the Tobacco Industry was Google. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><div style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While a certain moral ambiguity has become expected at places like Facebook or even former ALEC member Walmart, hope still resided in Google's "Do No Evil" motto. While Google has been <a href="http://www.alternet.org/tea-party-and-right/why-google-funding-grover-norquist-heritage-action-and-alec">acting questionably on that front lately</a> with hiring of former <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2012/feb/23/business/la-fi-tn-google-molinari-20120223">Republican Representative Molinari</a> as their lobbyist and the fundraiser for <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/07/11/2283031/over-10000-google-users-protest-companys-inhofe-fundraiser/">Climate Change denier Jim Inhofe</a>, and other <a href="http://billmoyers.com/2013/12/04/dont-be-evil-google-funding-a-slew-of-right-wing-groups/">ultra-conservative representatives</a>, what they are doing currently with ALEC makes little to no sense. </span></div><div style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Young Turks, using some video footage from Brad Johnson of <a href="http://forecastthefacts.org/">Forecast the Facts</a>, explains the situation rather well. </span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/sO_x2g32ttQ/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/sO_x2g32ttQ&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/sO_x2g32ttQ&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While it is true that there was a panel yesterday discussing ways to influence auto insurance premiums &nbsp;for driverless cars, like the ones Google is working on, many of ALEC's efforts go directly against many of the programs that Google and other forward-thinking companies pride themselves on. Specifically Google and Facebook’s environmental efforts would be curtailed and the tax incentives would be <a href="http://www.fastcoexist.com/3022988/google-and-facebook-keep-supporting-laws-that-gut-their-own-renewable-energy-investments">wiped clean if ALEC had their way</a>. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>An Inside View</u></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At conferences, like the one finishing up today, they have a wide bevy of event and workshops that help bolster the corporate efforts on the legislative side. As described by Washington Post writer Dana Milbank when he entered “<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dana-milbank-alec-stands-its-ground/2013/12/04/ad593320-5d2c-11e3-bc56-c6ca94801fac_story.html">the belly of the beast</a>;” </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b> </span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The environment and energy task force, led by private-sector American Electric Power. The tax and fiscal policy task force, headed by Altria. The international relations task force, run by Philip Morris. The commerce and insurance task force, by State Farm. And the health and human services task force, by Guarantee Trust Life Insurance.</span></blockquote></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b> </span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Like Dana, most who don’t cough up the $1100 fee for the conference or are members of the press are <a href="http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion/57222575-82/alec-state-force-task.html.csp">shut out of the process</a></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. In fact, the public would have little to no knowledge of <a href="http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/inner-workings-of-influential-pro-business-group-alec-revealed/article_f5168827-079c-5b33-b1df-89865be46c2a.html">ALEC or its inner workings</a></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> if it wasn’t for a number of leaked documents including ones that recently show that the group has a strange relationship with <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/12/05/3436214/alec-documents-show-strong-ties.html">North Carolina</a>, that <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/03/alec-funding-crisis-big-donors-trayvon-martin">its power </a></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/03/alec-funding-crisis-big-donors-trayvon-martin">may be on the decline</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and willfully misled the press and the public about <a href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2013/12/12328/leaked-docs-show-alecs">the nature of the activities they participated in</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. They may in fact</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> be in some trouble with the <a href="http://desmogblog.com/2013/12/03/leaked-documents-reveal-irs-concerns-funding-crisis-corporate-lobbying-group-alec">IRS for violations</a> regarding these activities. </span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/03/alec-funding-crisis-big-donors-trayvon-martin" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></a></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>The Bad News</u></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Currently ALEC is a 501(c)(3), a charitable organization which officially is not allowed to lobby, hence their issues with the IRS. To curtail this rule and continue lobbying to kill gun control, environmental protections and your right to unionize and even vote, ALEC is working on becoming a 501(c)(4). &nbsp;This to-be-formed association, called <a href="http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/04/if-you-liked-stand-your-ground-youll-love-the-jeffersonian-project/?_r=0">the Jeffersonian Project</a></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, would be officially allowed to accept sizable donations without any disclosure. This group would be allowed to create attack ads, technically even lobbying activities as long as their primary role is education. As you may recall from the satirical efforts of <a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/398531/september-29-2011/colbert-super-pac---trevor-potter---stephen-s-shell-corporation">the Colbert Report</a></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, corporate entities would prefer to donate to a (c)(4) because of the anonymity involved and for a strange loophole that allows anonymous donations to a (c)(4) that can then be funneled to a PAC like ALEC without disclosure of the original donors. If ALEC is allowed to create this organization, there would be literally no real way of knowing who was directly involved in the funding of their activities. </span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.popularresistance.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/1alec.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="http://www.popularresistance.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/1alec.jpg" height="231" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ALEC has big plans for 2014. So far these leaked documents and their own words have suggested efforts to do away with <a href="http://www.talkradionews.com/opinion/2013/12/04/alec-is-planning-for-a-busy-year.html#.UqF6P2RDsQd">the minimum wage</a>, push fracked natural gas as motor fuel, removing the bottom <a href="http://truth-out.org/news/item/20435-on-the-news-with-thom-hartmann-alecs-2014-legislative-agenda-and-more">%75 from low income medical care</a>, </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/04/alec-freerider-homeowners-assault-clean-energy" style="line-height: 1.15;">go after renewable &nbsp;energy</a><span style="color: white; line-height: 1.15;">, and even call a </span><a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2013/12/04/alec_ron_johnson_support_convention_of_states.html" style="line-height: 1.15;">constitutional convention of the states</a><span style="color: white; line-height: 1.15;"> to try and "rail in" the activities of the federal government. Above all else there is the goal of </span><a href="http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/25380" style="line-height: 1.15;">regaining their lost membership</a><span style="color: white; line-height: 1.15;"> and the revenue they create.</span><br /><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><span style="color: white;">If any of these come to pass, the doors will be opening that will be hard to close and each of those doors lead to a very scary place.&nbsp;</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>The Good News</u></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The good news is that <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2013/12/03/3015361/alec-fading-power)">ALEC looks like it is on the decline</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and there are things that you, as a consumer and public citizen can do to kill ALEC and organizations that trample on our protections and our rights in the name of corporate gain. </span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of the biggest successes that bit ALEC in the end was their wide-spread support and pushing of “Stand Your Ground” legislation. After the Trayvon Martin slaying ALEC felt <a href="http://sandrarose.com/2012/04/alec-stops-advocating-stand-your-ground-law-after-losing-corporate-sponsors-in-wake-of-trayvon-martin-shooting/">a huge backlash to their organization</a>. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Much to <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-engler/alec-annoyed-at-losing-sp_b_1424313.html">ALEC’s chagrin</a></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> groups like Amazon, <a href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2013/12/12332/alec-not-where-visa-wants-be">Visa</a></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, Coca-cola, GE, and even WallMart wanted to disassociate themselves from this group for fear of seeming too “evil.” According to leaked documents this translated to a loss of about <a href="http://www.salon.com/2013/12/03/alec_tries_to_claw_back_support_lost_after_trayvon_furore/">400 state legislators and 60 corporation members in the last two years</a></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and about one third of their proceeds. (BTW, Ted Cruz, probably not the BEST strategy to <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2013/12/05/ted-cruz-to-alec-stand-your-ground/">tell your beloved ALEC to “stand [their] ground”</a> as an organization, COULD be a triggering phrase.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another sign that this break away may be continuing is that Google actually dropped out of a panel discussion (the driverless car panel mentioned earlier) yesterday which some may take as a sign that they are rethinking this union. Groups like Forecast the Facts and their associated coalition have been working on applying pressure to Google. </span><br /><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While some may try to teach that "<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2013/11/22/explaining-to-grist-why-facebook-and-google-belong-to-alec/">this just how big business needs to operate</a>" it really doesn't need to be. We live in a world where each person has the power to call their representatives, <a href="http://billmoyers.com/content/interactive-map-is-your-state-legislator-a-member-of-alec/%20/">even find out if they belong to ALEC</a>, and voice their opinion. You can write an <a href="mailto:larry.page@google.com">email to the head of Google</a> to tell him your opinion. You can call out all the companies involved and <a href="http://www.thenation.com/blog/167269/dont-just-pressure-alecs-sponsors-name-and-shame-alec-legislators">all the legislators involved</a>. You can <a href="http://act.forecastthefacts.org/sign/google_stop_funding_alec/?source=ftf_website">create petitions to these companies and the government</a>. </span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;">The more you get involved in the process and those involved, the better things can get.&nbsp;</span></b><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>Andrew Kornblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17006069193232411653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110763491746806640.post-20521273888043706232013-11-29T06:30:00.000-08:002013-11-29T06:30:01.933-08:00Please Don't Put Your Phone In a Blender<b><u>Throw away your phones</u></b><br /><br />It is black friday, a day where consumerism and spending is mushed and kicked onward by the media and corporate entities. Everyone wants us to buy more, spend more and keep our economy going. All this at breakneck speeds. For our current model of the economy to be considered a “success” by those who apparently decide those things, we have to have continuous high scaled growth. This means a lot of buying. . Recently, an add device has resurfaced across products trying to convince consumers to purposefully lose, destroy and replace their older phone models or computers with the latest shiny toy to hit the shelves.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="323" scrolling="no" src="http://www.ispot.tv/share/7tiy" width="500"></iframe> </div><br />This advertisement hits to the center of this consumer-driving dialogue and is trying to be cute and clever about it. From an environmental perspective, this commercial’s message, and a similar version they held last year, is disgusting. It makes sense, companies want money and to make money you have to buy their newer models, but that doesn’t make it any less repugnant. We are all aware that it takes work, material and energy to create the products we use and love. We all recognize, to some small degree, that when we dispose of our products they either turn into waste or emissions and take a toll on our environment or cost significant energy to recycle and I am not even going to get into the impacts of us all using these things the way we do.<br /><br /><b><u>The problem</u></b><br /><br />The problem is that we are far too separated from these elements to recognize that our consumer habits are destroying lives and our planet. Commercials, like the one shown, that use this marketing gimmick of “just destroy your old one so you can get a new one” ignore all of the facts we know about the ills of consumption and waste. They throw that all away and refocus the attention on the “new, shiny” product that you just have to buy.<br /><br />These commercials would have us forget that the factories where these machines are made are still having problems with suicides even though they have been <a href="http://www.dailytech.com/Foxconn+Installs+AntiSuicide+Nets+at+Its+Facilities/article18877.htm">working on countermeasures for at least 3 years</a>. They would have us ignore the fact that these factories, the energy used to produce these products and the chemicals used in their production destroy the air and the <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/10/21/2810581/">local environment of countries like China</a>.<br /><br />We must remember that each phone we throw away and the production of each new one both have incredibly devastating impacts, especially if one starts thinking in the scale of global use and production. To make smartphones work, the current technology is reliant on rare earth metals. They aren’t as rare as their name would imply but currently China has cornered the market. When countries <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/04/discovery-rare-earth-metals-ocean-mud-japan/">find them at the bottom of the ocean they race to exploit the resources</a>, trying to compete with China. Many times destroying <a href="http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/653840/how_deepsea_mining_could_destroy_the_cradle_of_life_on_earth.html">the fragile eco-system</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theecologist.org/siteimage/scale/300/2000/158535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.theecologist.org/siteimage/scale/300/2000/158535.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />When these metals are mined and processed, <a href="http://e360.yale.edu/feature/boom_in_mining_rare_earths_poses_mounting_toxic_risks/2614/">they have huge environmental effects</a>&nbsp;and can lead to <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2012/11/rare-earth-elements-iphone-malaysia">some scary things if disposed of improperly</a>.<br /><br />It is disgusting that a commercial would promote the practices they show in these commercials. It don’t matter that there is a disclaimer at the bottom, the practice is presented and encourages a concept of obsolescence. When dealing with a company that has already been known to <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/it-leadership/apples-planned-obsolescence-customer-revolt-brews/d/d-id/1105001">pre-program obsolescence</a> just to make more money off of their customers, this is all very shady and frightening.<br /><br />Some may point out that, in the current system, if you want a properly working phone that you can use to get a foot up on the competition out there, you better get one with the best bells and whistles. That may be true in the current system where you can only purchase prepackaged phones, but on the horizon of the new economy is a new vision.<br /><br /><b><u>A phone worth keeping&nbsp;</u></b><br /><br />Modular phones exist on the premise of being able to personalize the components on your own phone.&nbsp;<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Want a better camera? Better Video-Card? simply switch it out. It is a method that is hoping to answer the question of how to lower the costs of phones for the consumer while upping their value. It also might hold the answer to more sustainable future for consumer electronics. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/29/motorola-project-ara-modular-smartphone/"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/10/ara1blogpost.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">They are a response to obsolescence through modular upgrading, allowing the consumer to keep up with the trends without having to toss a whole phone in order to do it. Phonebloks, Motorola's modular and <a href="http://singularityhub.com/2013/11/05/googles-motorola-and-dutch-designer-developing-open-source-modular-smartphone-hardware/">open source</a> phone project, was the brainchild of Google's Motorola and created by&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">created by Dave Hakkens to forge a</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> "phone worth keeping." </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">An interesting <a href="http://www.popsci.com/article/gadgets/motorola-and-3d-systems-will-3-d-print-modular-cell-phones">development with "homebuilt" parts recently arose</a>. The concept has the potential to become even more individualized the more that personal 3D printers continue to gain in popularity. Once the <a href="http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/3-d-printing-a-recycling-machine">sustainability of 3D material</a> egg is cracked, the process will get even greener and <a href="http://gigaom.com/2013/10/08/its-about-to-get-easier-to-3d-print-with-recycled-plastic/">advances in plastics</a> are making that fast approach. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">This black friday, keep in mind three things;&nbsp;</div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></div><ol><li><a href="http://www.postconsumers.com/education/black-friday/" style="line-height: 1.15;">You don't HAVE to go out and shop</a>.</li><li><span style="line-height: 1.15;">Doing your research on what your impacts are helps you pick the best product.&nbsp;</span></li><li><span style="line-height: 1.15;">Don't let your behaviors be affected by commercials that teach you to act like mindless animals.</span></li></ol>Andrew Kornblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17006069193232411653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110763491746806640.post-10913458598096800942013-11-18T09:03:00.000-08:002013-12-25T23:06:26.888-08:00The Vilification of the Green Market - The Experiment <i>This is part 1 of an ongoing series covering an experiment I have done for the past year in building a sustainable portfolio and the lessons learned as a result.&nbsp;</i><br /><b><u><br /></u></b><b><u>The Experiment</u></b><br /><br />For the past year I have been running an experiment. It is an attempt to build a real green portfolio, one where one could find Solar and sustainable tech. Off of my meager funds, I attempted to create such a fund that would actually make money. I wasn't investing heavily, honestly I didn't have much to invest so my experiment couldn't be pricey.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://im.ft-static.com/content/images/81e1ed30-e3af-408b-a646-fae110cad31b.img" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://im.ft-static.com/content/images/81e1ed30-e3af-408b-a646-fae110cad31b.img" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />My stepfather and father are both intimately familiar with the workings of the stock market, one of my uncles works on the building, selling and saving of businesses and another uncle who made six figures at 45. I have spoken with each of them in-depth about my goal and each had a different opinion. After thinking about it for far too long, a particularly interesting holiday family gathering conversation made me take the plunge and I bought my first piece of stock.<br /><br />I had made myself a couple of rules:<br /><br /><b><u>Only invest in companies that you think would build a better future.&nbsp;</u></b><br />This concept is fairly straight forward for the humanitarian but a little contrary to most investment strategies on the stock market. The floor cares about profits, growth and value. As I have learned from really concentrating on the stock market for the past year, those that decide the price and affect the price are very quick to judge and jump to wild conclusions.<br /><br /><b><u>Try to think in the long term.&nbsp;</u></b><br />Many market strategies for investment go from quarter to quarter or sooner. I wanted to avoid that so I decided to try and find companies that followed my first rule but would not only make a profit but possibly become pivotal to the economy of the future.<br /><br />This can have many definitions. To me it includes markets such as solar, geothermal, wind and ocean in the energy production sector and companies that solved energy storage problems.<br /><br /><u><b>Research the market.</b>&nbsp;</u><br />From watching <a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-march-9-2009/in-cramer-we-trust">the Daily Show </a>and reading <a href="http://blog.pundittracker.com/jim-cramers-mad-money-picks-2011-and-2012-recap/">Blogs</a>, I decided to avoid any and all financial advisers and researched the market with my own intuition. Once learning as much as I could about the company, its customers and the market, I would make a rational decision to buy or watch it.<br /><br />Right around my birthday in November, I had heard about this <a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/11/30/142935396/big-solar-project-moves-forward-without-uncle-sam">company on NPR</a> who had an interesting business model for Solar panelling. I found Solar City so interesting that not only did my research set me off on my appreciation of Elon Musk.<br /><br />This led me a few months later, at the encouragement of a dear friend of mine, to purchase <a href="https://www.google.com/finance?q=NASDAQ%3ATSLA&amp;ei=57iJUoDiCcKdiQKZMQ">Tesla (TSLA)</a> since it was on the rise and in the news at the time. I started picking up a few shares over the next months till I had a Bio-Med company doing cancer research, a fuel-cell producer and supplier, a green energy REIT and a few others.<br /><br />As of this morning, my portfolio has gone up by <b>119.47%</b>. Of all of my investments, only one has a negative movement worth a total of $6.20. <br /><br />I know that this was unusual, and based on a lot of luck in my access to information but it opens the concept of making money by buying the stocks of the companies you want to be around in the future and either selling or not purchasing those that may rise in price, but have a net loss to society. I see oil and coal based companies in this queue unless they make a serious lateral movement into serious green production and an almost total abandonment of business as usual. The future of o<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/11/magazine/11Economy-t.html?pagewanted=all&amp;_r=0">ur economy and our relationship</a> to it needs to be realigned to be more efficient and more sustainable.<br /><br />To extend the experiment I also put together a fake portfolio of stocks that grab my eye who do work in the Green space. Through out this series I will be posting updates to that list and eventually having a link that all can view.<br /><br />This experiment and what I have learned in the process reinforced my belief that there is an alternative to how we are currently running things. Through out the past year of paying closer attention to the stock market and the news surrounding it, I have also learned some very interesting things. Including the fact that pretty much no one who is writing about the market, knows what they are talking about.<br /><br />But more on that in part 2.Andrew Kornblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17006069193232411653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110763491746806640.post-18751679705507085752013-10-12T10:51:00.000-07:002013-10-12T10:51:22.281-07:00SXSW Eco 2013 - Part 3The second day of SXSW Eco was a grueling pace of amazing speakers, amazing panels and far too many things to do. The very first panel section on my official SXSW Eco scheduler was packed with 5 different panels and presentations that I felt pulled to. In the end I chose<a href="http://schedule.sxsweco.com/events/event_ECOP16657"> "Who Wins Water,"</a> a discussion on the future of water, the lack of fresh water and the impacts of retooling the water design. The issue of water is one that many Americans take for granted because, in most instances, water is "free" or a municipally supported right. The United Nations has, for years now, declared and supported the fact <a href="http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/human_right_to_water.shtml">that water and clean sanitation is a basic human right</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dac.com/App_Content/images/50/austin_convention_center.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="139" src="http://www.dac.com/App_Content/images/50/austin_convention_center.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />This panel was so interesting that I could hardly keep myself from retweeting the entirety of the discussion. This was especially true with <a href="http://schedule.sxsweco.com/speakers/speaker_636763">Peter Glick</a> who, after researching him is now a personal hero. Not only was he spot on with water issues but he even infiltrated and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-h-gleick/-the-origin-of-the-heartl_b_1289669.html">exposed aspects of the Heartland Institute</a>, who I wrote about <a href="http://www.thegreenprogressive.com/2013/09/climate-enemy-watch-list-koch-forbes.html">earlier in the month</a>. The panel was really great at linking the human and the economic impacts of water and drought.<br /><br />After the session I had to run to the amazing press room that the staff had set up to prepare for my Online Ocean Symposium hangout. The conversation went well and there will be a highlight reel coming but for now, here is the conversation.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/wnbMMjWt8mA/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/wnbMMjWt8mA&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/wnbMMjWt8mA&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div><br />After the hangout and a quick vegetarian bite at a local cantina I headed to a <a href="http://schedule.sxsweco.com/events/event_ECOP990681">discussion between Bloomberg and VP of Next Generation Climate Action Kate Gordon</a>. Next Gen is an organization trying to create political and personal action on the climate including supporting the green economy and fighting against projects like XL Keystone pipeline. Founded by Billionaire Tom Steyer who has been making some <a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tom-steyers-nextgen-climate-action-ad-series-concludes-by-calling-on-president-to-do-the-right-thing-on-keystone-xl-pipeline-225710261.html">fantastic moves on the effort and some fantastic videos</a>. Kate Gordon <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYGOj1XiZmU&amp;feature=youtu.be">went into detail about their project "Risky Business</a>" which tries to educate on the long term detriments of a bad-climate business model.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BWFcr3MCIAA01Q-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BWFcr3MCIAA01Q-.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />My next stop was the panel discussion and live broadcast from&nbsp;<a href="http://climatedesk.org/">ClimateDesk.org</a>. The discussion, titled "<a href="http://schedule.sxsweco.com/events/event_ECOP10001107#sthash.7IveuvAv.dpuf">Beyond Extreme Weather: Has the Media Failed Us in Reporting Climate Change?</a>" went into the over all coverage of climate issues, comparing it to other stories at the same time of publication and wording of the articles for adoption. The panel was filled to the brim with great experts and reporters in their field including a previous&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&amp;v=Ex7T1JcucoY">Hangout guest Kate Sheppard</a>&nbsp;and moderated by the ever wonderful <a href="http://schedule.sxsweco.com/speakers/speaker_637314">Chris Mooney</a>.<br /><br />While this conversation was interesting, educational and, in the end impact, the last question that the panel asked bothered me a little bit. An audience member asked "how do you measure the success of your stories." Every single panelist talked to the point of what I call passive impacts. Things like; readers, shares, comments, likes were highlighted as the "end-all-be-all" when these are all very low impact actions. I can not tell you how many articles I have read over the past week. I can tell you how many made me actually call a Senator or go to an event. I wondered if those metrics were considered; how much action and change occurred.<br /><br />After the panel discussion, most of the action of the convention went to an awards ceremony with a mediocre MC and a far too crowded drink line. Deciding to try and keep to my favorite parts of these conferences, the conversations, I headed to a side event at a local bar. This event showed off an urban farming technique called a "living wall."<br /><br />While an open bar, delicious foods and fantastic fresh garnishes were all distracting, the conversations were even more amazing. In the end, I was lucky enough to make some fantastic contacts and even had the privilege of riding to my hotel on the back of a motorcycle, driven by a hardcore urban farmer and all around awesome person Paige Hill of <a href="http://www.urbanpatchwork.org/">Urban Patchwork</a>.Andrew Kornblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17006069193232411653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110763491746806640.post-91308677412497794122013-10-07T21:08:00.000-07:002013-10-16T12:58:09.394-07:00South By Southwest Eco - Part 2Today was a fantastic opener for my second year at SXSW Eco. After a brief press breakfast with some introductions and TWO different selections of pork-based breakfast sandwiches (of which I chose the fruit) the day began in the bustling Austin Convention center.<br /><div><br /></div><div>This was a new venue and a new field. Obviously bigger than the previous year, this growing festival was alive with energy and excitement. A bustling crowd, or "a sprawling metropolis" as model/eco activist <a href="http://www.summerrayne.net/">Summer Rayne Oaks</a> Tweeted, had already begun to surround the introductory event.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>After a modest and pre-recorded "hello" from&nbsp;Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary UNFCCC, came one of the first keynote speakers, <a href="http://schedule.sxsweco.com/speakers/speaker_638603">Ron Finley</a>.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.sxsw.com/2013/eco_spg_images/ECOP990739.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://img.sxsw.com/2013/eco_spg_images/ECOP990739.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This guy blew my mind. I hate to admit it, but when he asked, "how many of you don't know who I am?" I sheepishly raised my hand. His story is amazing; starting an urban garden movement out of getting in trouble for planting one. The very real manner in which he spoke, the passion in his tired voice and how he tied our lost connection to food to our failing school systems to our food deserts. All of it resonated.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>When it ended I was slightly disappointed that I didn't have a chance to chat with him but off I ran to catch the&nbsp;Ocean Conservation through Social Innovation panel which hosted my good friend and Ocean mentor Charlotte Vick and&nbsp;Anna Clark, who apparently worked on the shark fin ban in the Texas legislature at the same time I worked on it remotely. The highlight of this chat was to see first hand footage of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.infinitescuba.com/">Infinite Scuba</a>, a video game that teaches you how to dive, how to deal with "narc"ing and even explore sunken treasures. At my first chance I am going to play the heck out of that game.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://schedule.sxsweco.com/events/event_ECOP16531">Making Carbon Visible in Cities</a>&nbsp;was another mind-blowing panel. Not only did it play to my sustainable cities and Gov 2.0 loves but it tickled my data nerd-dom. I was introduced to a depository of emission data and a company whose sole purpose is to turn that data into digestible, powerful and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtqSIplGXOA">engaging visualizations</a>.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/mTJVpGAZ_zo/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mTJVpGAZ_zo?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mTJVpGAZ_zo?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div><div><br /></div><div>Later on I was also able to catch<a href="http://schedule.sxsweco.com/events/event_ECOP990730"> IBM's efforts in crisis mapping through big data</a> with&nbsp;David Barnes, who is a very enthusiastic speaker, and caught a fairly interesting panel on <a href="http://schedule.sxsweco.com/events/event_ECOP16233">cities' mitigation and abatement strategies</a>. &nbsp;The end lesson being we need more data and more accurate data. Like always, there were far too many panels to check out and could only get a few highlights through <a href="https://twitter.com/search?src=typd&amp;q=sxsweco">Twitter</a>.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>One of the best parts of the evening was being able to go to this first day after party meet up drinking margaritas in the hot Texas air and talking shop with tons of interesting people from interesting backgrounds including chatting a reporter from the Guardian, a blogger from <a href="http://forecastthefacts.org/">Forecast the Facts</a>&nbsp;and a communications professional from the National Parks Conservation Association about why <a href="http://boingboing.net/2013/09/13/googles-lobbyists-go-big-on.html">Google is playing for VERY conservative Senators</a>.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Tomorrow I have my hangout to look forward to and I apparently picked 4 different panels to go to at the same time so, again, decisions.</div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thegreenprogressive.com/2013/10/south-by-south-west-eco-2013-part-1.html"><-part 1=""> | <!---part--></-part></a><a href="http://www.thegreenprogressive.com/2013/10/sxsw-eco-2013-part-3.html">Part 3-&gt;</a><!-----></div></div>Andrew Kornblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17006069193232411653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110763491746806640.post-65839045794274266842013-10-06T16:09:00.000-07:002013-10-14T14:40:58.941-07:00South By South West Eco 2013 - Part 1You may recall that last year <a href="http://www.thegreenprogressive.com/2012/10/sxsw-eco-1-leaving-on-jet-plane.html">I was lucky enough to attend SXSW</a> Eco and fall in love with the convention. From the interesting panels to the throngs of data and climate wonks that filled the convention with a bustling hum of excitement. The discussions and interactions that filled the three day conference were invigorating and incredible.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.leonleaf.net/OnlineOceanSymposium/images/Screen%20Shot%202013-10-04%20at%2010.12.38%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.leonleaf.net/OnlineOceanSymposium/images/Screen%20Shot%202013-10-04%20at%2010.12.38%20PM.png" /></a></div><br />This year the<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/sxsw-eco-2013"> 3000+ attendees are swarming Austin, Texas </a>for hack-athons, thought experiments, and intense discussions all surrounding solving serious problems we are facing. These problems center in the domains of climate change, <a href="http://www.krgv.com/news/ecofactor-to-present-at-sxsw-eco-2013-next-gen-power-panel-focused-on-energy">energy</a>, and running smart cities.<br /><br />Big data is king here and so is open discussion. The attendees are diverse, from different stakeholder groups. It is not just environmentalists who are going to be in attendance or city employees or policy wonks. There is also going to be large contingents representing industries such as energy, automotive and waste management.<br /><br />This year, like last, I am representing an ocean contingent which is much more active and in-depth than the previous year. Unlike in 2012 where there where arguably few events focusing on ocean issues and topics, this year there are bundles covering everything from plastic in the gyres to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/9/prweb11176470.htm">“Ocean Conservation through Social Innovation.”</a><br /><br />Another change from last year is that I am officially a member of the press this year. Able to conduct interviews without feeling awkward or pushy. As a result of this new found authority, the Symposium will also be holding a <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/103926857851630146937/events/c9c7f7l71j1emb6vot4fnno2gcg">Google Hangout from the event on the 8th</a>. Tomorrow morning, a special breakfast for press.<br /><br />Stay tuned for coverage and analysis of this younger baby SXSW just breaking its third year. Who knows, might even run into <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/creative/2013/09/fairey-named-sxsw-eco-keynote-speaker.html">Shepard Fairey</a>. You can also check out the <a href="http://www.onlineoceansymposium.com/sxsweco.html">landing page we made for the festival.&nbsp;</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thegreenprogressive.com/2013/10/south-by-southwest-eco-part-2.html">Part 2 -&gt;</a></div><br />Andrew Kornblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17006069193232411653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110763491746806640.post-54559967808253561572013-09-25T19:23:00.000-07:002013-09-29T18:48:35.058-07:00Climate Enemy watch list - Koch, Forbes, and the Heartland Institute<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">War has been declared. A war against science for profit. This war has been going on for a while but the most recent battle-cry has sounded. This fight, depending on who wins, has the potential to destroy our planet and leave it useless for future generations and the main cause is greed. Those so-called scientists who are in the minority 2-3% are selling out their scientific soul for profit and notoriety. </span></div><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Earlier this month, Greenpeace released </span><a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/campaigns/global-warming-and-energy/polluterwatch/Dealing-in-Doubt---the-Climate-Denial-Machine-vs-Climate-Science/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">an epic 60 page report</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> detailing this war on science since the 90s. This report is well written and dives into the various players, “scientists” and those who are being attacked. This is a poignant and timely report since it coincides with the latest IPCC’s pending report on the climate and, in turn, the opposition’’s most recent coordinated attack. </span></span></div><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r9m55mq6sLE/UjnP0qUmHRI/AAAAAAAAQww/AO7yQmhDi0g/s400/IPCC_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><img border="0" height="146" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r9m55mq6sLE/UjnP0qUmHRI/AAAAAAAAQww/AO7yQmhDi0g/s400/IPCC_logo.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;">As a little bit of background, the <a href="http://www.ipcc.ch/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">IPCC</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, or Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, is an international intergovernmental scientific group consisting of thousands of volunteers to contribute scientific findings, reviews and summary reports for international policy makers on the climate. Think of it as an international body of scientists trying to save the planet by informing world leaders about the climate and how it is changing. The panel’s main purpose is to learn and inform about climate change, whether it is man-made and how to mitigate and adapt to it. </span></span><br /><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The work of the IPCC is so important that the last report it filed in 2007 “led to the IPCC being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, jointly with Al Gore.” </span><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24149439" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can see an amazing 90 second synopsis from BBC here.</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></div><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This body, and the resulting Kyoto Protocol, are threats to certain industries that contribute to anthropogenic (man-made or influenced) climate change. Think Oil, Gas, Energy, massive polluters and the like. Since the 1990’s leaders and think-tanks in these industries have been waging an all out war that perpetuates today against our hope for the future. As stated in the Greenpeace report;</span></div><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br /></span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"The individuals, organizations and corporate interests who comprise the ‘climate denial machine’ have caused harm and have slowed our response time. As a result, we will all ultimately pay a much higher cost as we deal with the impacts, both economic and ecological."</span></blockquote><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br /></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As the IPCC reports start to come out, be wary of what information you get and from where</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. It has been found that the “</span><a href="http://www.ucsusa.org/news/press_release/us-news-media-help-koch-0382.html" style="line-height: 1.15; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">U.S. news media routinely fail to inform the public about the fossil fuel industry funders behind climate change contrarian think tanks, according to an investigation by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”</span></span></div><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, who are these key players? In this post I am going to break it down into 3 main groups, publications, and think-tanks that are part of this cabal and are representing a larger field. These groups are; the Koch Brothers, Forbes Magazine and the Heartland Institute. Three specific and linked cogs of many in a giant machine.</span></div><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><h3><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Koch Brothers</span></h3><span style="background-color: #274e13;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anyone who has been paying attention has heard about the Koch brothers and their practices. As a refresher the two oil barons are worth a combined $44 Billion and over the past 20+ years have plunged their </span><a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/campaigns/global-warming-and-energy/polluterwatch/koch-industries/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">oil-ridden hands into innumerable climate-denial pies.</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;</span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="169" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/IaKm89eVhoE" width="300"></iframe></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; font-family: Arial; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;">The piece above is from 2011 and echos the most recent attack on climate science. </span></span></div><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If there is a think tank, foundation, college or campaign out there that is trying to squash the efforts to abate climate change or change our reliance on oil, you can bet that the Koch brothers have had at least some money in the game. </span></div><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why are the Koch Brothers investing so heavily in killing climate change science? To protect their self interest and to </span><a href="http://climatechangepsychology.blogspot.com/2012/05/koch-brothers-activism-protects-their.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">protect their industry</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-alterman/think-again-the-mainstrea_2_b_3836570.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They make billions on exploiting the fossil fuels that contribute to greenhouse gasses.</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> They want to keep the general public ignorant to the scientific facts and the logical steps needed to survive to protect their own business future. The Koch brothers are thinking of short term gains at the cost of our 100 year survivability. </span></span></div><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">News about their ties to various groups and funds rises almost daily. Most recently a story broke about </span><a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/behind-the-curtain-exclusive-the-koch-brothers-secret-bank-96669.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Freedom Partners,</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> a conservative group that has around $250 million in its coffers to shape the national policy discourse. There have also been issues with the </span><a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/05/29/1212417/-Tea-Party-ties-to-Koch-Brothers-Ignored-by-Media-in-IRS-Scandal" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tea Party</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and various </span><a href="http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/05/11/144280/koch-university-takeover/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">universities across the country</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. They even have had their minions trying to open the doors for logging and mining interests in </span><a href="http://www.thegreenprogressive.com/2012/12/point-reyes-oyster-farm.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">public lands through a northern California oyster farm dispute</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></span></div><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/02/01/1526471/february-1-news-koch-brothers-keep-pouring-cash-into-think-tanks-george-mason-and-alec/"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><img border="0" src="http://thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/koch-bros-300x200.jpg" /></span></a></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><br /></span></b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><br /></span></b><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is not just think tanks and third party groups that are wrapped around these billionaires fingers, it is also politicians. We can remember the ties to the </span><a href="http://www.occupy.com/article/crashing-david-koch%E2%80%99s-party" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mitt Romney campaign</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and their big push to control both </span><a href="http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/318-66/11954-koch-brothers-expand-political-operation" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">republican and libertarian institutions</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in the past. Their effective reach is mind boggling. </span></span></div><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Utilizing this far reaching political net to fuel their interests, the Koch brothers have been pushing politicians directly to effect action against climate change science and mitigation. Since 2008 they have been, in secret, pushing the politicians in their pockets to sign an “</span><a href="http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/07/03/19268215-koch-brothers-push-gop-officials-to-sign-anti-climate-pledge?lite" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">anti-climate tax pledge</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” starting a year after the Supreme Court ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency could regulate greenhouse gasses as a form of pollution. It isn’t that hard to find a direct link from this </span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/01/koch-brothers-climate-change_n_3530397.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">pledge and failed climate legislation </span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">in our corporate subsidized congress. </span></span></div><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The real factor here to take into account are the paid, in pocket “experts” and “scientists” that are </span><a href="http://www.rtcc.org/2013/09/10/dealing-in-doubt-how-big-oil-funds-climate-denial/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">directly and indirectly funded by the Koch brothers and their interests.</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><h3><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FORBES</span></h3></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The self described “Capitalist Tool,” Forbes magazine is a publication geared towards America’s business leaders. It's purpose is to comment on news, politics and innovations to better educate on the financial and business impacts of these elements. </span><br /><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/forbes-magazine-blasts-wall-street-journal-on-climate-change" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_content_width/hash/a3/d8/a3d81f29ddad0c69ed63330d421a5f0e.jpg?itok=VxMxMtrd" width="200" /></span></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Industry, the various stock markets and business in general does not like uncertainty. When there is uncertainty markets tend to fluctuate and the general consensus is that "the status quo is good." It would make sense for those in certain markets, such as the Koch brothers in the oil industry to try and push the "everything is fine" and "business as usual" story to keep their industry making money.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For a publication like Forbes, it would make sense to try and accurately depict the industry and its future. When it comes to climate change a publication whose role it was to inform the business elite one would expect it to act in logical manner. Such a publication would trust in the prevailing science, try to inform its readers of practices that would limit the speculated impacts and suggest investment in industry that would supply the demands of abatement and adaptation. Forbes is not acting logically in this situation and there is a simple reason.</span></div><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Forbes, has through out its history published articles fighting against climate science. This last year they have upped their game. So far they have tried to call</span><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamestaylor/2013/02/13/peer-reviewed-survey-finds-majority-of-scientists-skeptical-of-global-warming-crisis/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> into question the fact that there is a scientific consensus</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that it is in fact happening and tried the </span><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterferrara/2013/09/22/your-move-global-warming-alarmists-science-has-exposed-your-unwarranted-hysteria/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"name calling" game using terms like "alarmist" and "hysteria" or using misleading headlines and "facts</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">." </span></span></div><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Most recently they published a tiny article </span><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/larrybell/2013/09/24/alarmists-are-in-way-over-their-heads-on-rising-ocean-claims/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">calling into question the concern of sea level rise</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. To try and shut down the facts, this piece uses an "expert" in the field to one-by-one shut down facts about our ocean, our climate. This "expert" is indeed a scientist, specifically in the field of atmospheric physicist and is known for his work in space research, atmospheric pollution, rocket and satellite technology. </span></span></div><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/sites/beta.desmogblog.com/files/fred-singer_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.desmogblog.com/sites/beta.desmogblog.com/files/fred-singer_0.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><br /></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fred Singer, over his professional life, has spoken out extensively on climate issues trying to prove that the climate is not changing, but if it is, it is not caused by humans. If you read the Greenpeace report that I mentioned earlier Singer should be familiar to you. He was one of the many "experts" who have been in the anti-climate change camp highlighted in the piece. He is the founder of the Science &amp; Environmental Policy Project and is an emeritus professor of environmental science at University of Virginia and was a professor at George Mason University for a while. Funny thing about </span><a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/08/09/1230049/-Koch-Brothers-Influence-Peddling-Is-Your-Alma-Mater-on-the-List#" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">University of Virginia</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/koch-and-george-mason-university" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">George Mason University</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is that both have been linked to the Koch Brothers. &nbsp;</span></span></div><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As you can see, this expert in the field that Forbes pulls to speak on the climate and the IPCC has some questionable connections. In fact, according to leaked documents, Singer has been receiving </span><a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/what-passes-brain-trust-heartland" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">$5,000 a month from the Heartland Institute</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (to be talked about later). You can see for yourself just </span><a href="http://www.skepticalscience.com/skeptic_Fred_Singer.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a few of the "facts" Singer has tried to assert since 2008 debunked here</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></div><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Singer represents just one of a few “opposition scientists, those that live in the</span><a href="about:blank" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 2-3% of scientists out there that are not in the consensus</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that climate change is happening. There is actually a response group to the IPCC, the so called </span><a href="http://nipccreport.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> made of climate change denial scientists like Singer, with close ties to the Heartland Institute.</span></span></div><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So why would a seemingly reputable publication like Forbes brandish junk scientists and “experts” who are paid to say what the Koch brothers want? Simply put it is because the President and Chief Executive Officer of Forbes Inc. Steve Forbes is on the Board of trustees of the </span><a href="http://www.heritage.org/about/board-of-trustees" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Heritage Foundation</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></span></div><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.heritage.org/~/media/Images/about/Manual-pages/forbes.ashx?w=176&amp;h=190&amp;as=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><img border="0" src="http://www.heritage.org/~/media/Images/about/Manual-pages/forbes.ashx?w=176&amp;h=190&amp;as=1" /></span></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Heritage Foundation, a “research and educational institution—a think tank—whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense,” received a little over </span><a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/campaigns/global-warming-and-energy/polluterwatch/koch-industries/the-heritage-foundation/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">$4.5 million from the Koch brothers through various funds from 1997 to 2011 alone</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. &nbsp;</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The publication repeatedly lauds the brothers and has even written some very interesting "puff pieces" about them. </span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/danielfisher/2012/12/05/inside-the-koch-empire-how-the-brothers-plan-to-reshape-america/"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://blogs-images.forbes.com/danielfisher/files/2013/01/Forbes_cover122412.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><h3><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">THE HEARTLAND INSTITUTE</span></h3></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><a href="http://heartland.org/issues/environment" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Heartland Institute</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is another think tank whose mission, like the Heritage Foundation or the </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/sep/19/ipcc-report-sceptic-groups-anti-science-campaign" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cato Intitute</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, is to discover, develop, and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems. During the next few months, and any subsequent time that the IPCC will provide the public with climate findings, various “experts” will come out of the woodwork to give comment or comment on posts from the “climate change skeptic” camp. </span></span><br /><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.polluterwatch.com/sites/default/files/blog/heartlandlogo-300x236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><img border="0" src="http://www.polluterwatch.com/sites/default/files/blog/heartlandlogo-300x236.jpg" /></span></a></div><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It should come as no surprise that there are huge ties between </span><a href="http://www.salon.com/2013/02/01/koch_brothers_donated_big_to_alec_heartland_institute/" style="line-height: 1.15; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the Koch brothers</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and the Heartland Institute but there are also connections between this institution and other polluters, like </span><a href="http://www.exxonsecrets.org/html/orgfactsheet.php?id=41" style="line-height: 1.15; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Exxon</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and the </span><a href="http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2012/02/17/428111/exposed-the-19-public-corporations-funding-the-climate-denier-think-tank-heartland-institute/" style="line-height: 1.15; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">XL Group</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (XL Pipeline). </span></span></div><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This institution is part of this giant network of think tanks who are actively trying to convince the citizens of the United States, and even the world, that climate change isn’t happening, is not related to humans and, is nothing to worry about. They actively plan to fund vocal climate skeptics and coordinate with other groups who work on the same issues and, according to the </span><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2012/0215/Documents-reveal-Koch-funded-group-s-plot-to-undermine-climate-science" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christian Science Monitor</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">; </span></span></div><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The documents also reveal a communications strategy aimed at "keep[ing] opposing voices out" of publications such as Forbes Magazine, where the audience is "reliably anti-climate."</span></blockquote></div><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Heartland Institute, and their compatriots, are gearing up to spread their message of denying the base science through publications </span><a href="about:blank" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">like Forbes</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/environmentalcapital/2009/03/09/climate-change-skeptics-unite-heartland-institutes-other-global-warming-gabfest/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the Wall Street Journal</span></a><a href="http://grist.org/news/ahead-of-ipcc-report-fossil-fuel-groups-organize-climate-denial-campaign/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and their own blogs </span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to try and give credence to their claims. </span></span></div><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To jog your memories, the Heartland Institute is the organization that was behind such amazingly horrific campaigns as the billboards trying to link a belief in climate change.</span></div><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/sep/19/ipcc-report-sceptic-groups-anti-science-campaign"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Environment/Pix/columnists/2012/5/4/1336125117472/Leo-blog--The-Heartland-I-007.jpg" width="400" /></a><span id="goog_1182090995"></span><span id="goog_1182090996"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a></span></div><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br /><h3><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">SO WHAT NOW?</span></h3></div><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-size: x-large;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So we have a system where billionaires are trying to protect their interest by buying elected officials, creating and supporting dummy foundations and organizations who fund their own “experts” to comment in publications they own. This is the echo-chamber that is mentioned in the video at the beginning. </span></div><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This should come as no surprise. This cabal has been trying to do this for decades, before the Kyoto Protocols were even enacted. It even extends worldwide. Back in </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2009/nov/23/climate-sceptics-bob-ward-nigel-lawson" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2009 a British organization was under fire</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for their donations and for trying to push the story that the climate change was a “computer model error” a story that deniers still try to circulate. </span></span></div><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The most recent portion of the IPCC's report is coming out soon and it is important to pay attention to their findings. While it is also important to listening to difffereng opinions and alternative views, remember to do your homework. The purpose of this piece is to put certain things in perspective before the larger organizations start picking up on the tripe that the Koch brothers and their allies fling against the IPCC and their findings. Try to consider the source.</span><br /><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Also don't forget to educate yourself. You can start with<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=El2ebPcNLW0&amp;src_vid=Ex7T1JcucoY&amp;feature=iv&amp;annotation_id=annotation_366558689"> this discussion session I hosted on the Online Ocean Symposium</a> last month.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/Ex7T1JcucoY/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/Ex7T1JcucoY&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/Ex7T1JcucoY&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>Andrew Kornblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17006069193232411653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110763491746806640.post-89637373543761500992013-08-19T13:58:00.000-07:002013-09-02T19:31:48.571-07:00Outside Lands, Music Festivals and the Ecologically Unconscious<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This year I was able to go to the San Francisco based music festival, </span><a href="http://2012.sfoutsidelands.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Outside Lands</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. I was able to attend this festival of music and technology because I was fortunate enough to table for the </span><a href="http://plasticpollutioncoalition.org/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Plastic Pollution Coalition</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. For those unfamiliar, the PPC is an organization whose sole purpose is to educate on and attempt to eliminate the dangers of plastics in our society and ecosystem. The PPC had a booth at Outside Lands in an area known as “</span><a href="http://www.sfoutsidelands.com/ecolands/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ecolands</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” The organizers at Outside Lands put together “Ecolands” to be “the zeitgeist of sustainability and environmental consciousness of Outside Lands.” It housed a few eco, voting and preservation issue oriented groups, a water station where you could refill your bottle for $1 (or for free if you bought their $15 reusable container) and solar powered entertainment.</span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-1594dd18-e163-446a-e255-9c6734e0b264" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dbnaFzH34G8/UiU4fnn8WdI/AAAAAAAAC2Q/EVfyxB9Hf3M/s1600/BRSGoIVCQAUUlGz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dbnaFzH34G8/UiU4fnn8WdI/AAAAAAAAC2Q/EVfyxB9Hf3M/s320/BRSGoIVCQAUUlGz.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In this role we tried to teach and engage festival goers about the impacts of their activities and to bring awareness of the alternatives of plastics. </span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was refreshing to see so many people come to the booth and actually learn and become engaged with the information and volunteers. The crowds seemed to really love the spinning trivia wheel game where winners could win sustainable prizes like reusable bags, canteens and stainless steel straws.</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QD5zVBTFvBA/UiU5BISyF5I/AAAAAAAAC2Y/gMfvisRbmTQ/s1600/IMAG0119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QD5zVBTFvBA/UiU5BISyF5I/AAAAAAAAC2Y/gMfvisRbmTQ/s320/IMAG0119.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yLx_EpEotOQ/UiU5BMQSQkI/AAAAAAAAC2c/0XvdkT69mm4/s1600/IMAG0144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yLx_EpEotOQ/UiU5BMQSQkI/AAAAAAAAC2c/0XvdkT69mm4/s320/IMAG0144.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Along with “Ecolands,” the festival also partnered with </span><a href="http://www.cleanvibes.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Clean Vibes</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to offer incentives for festival-goers to pick up the detritus of the event including the mounds of alcohol containers, plastics, bio-plastics and cigarette butts. One of the prizes was even tickets to the next Outside Lands. They also had staff set at each waste station to help sort recyclables, compostables and trash.</span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C-tbDqDRO_c/UiU6SQx1sEI/AAAAAAAAC2s/p06-2S1uRfw/s1600/0f333b1402c311e3a4a222000a1d2025_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C-tbDqDRO_c/UiU6SQx1sEI/AAAAAAAAC2s/p06-2S1uRfw/s320/0f333b1402c311e3a4a222000a1d2025_7.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We already know that music festivals are </span><a href="http://www.villagevoice.com/2013-07-24/music/music-festivals-environment/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">environmental disasters</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and, while they can be economic and media boons to a local economies, the payoffs seldom are more than the costs. Many familiar with these impacts shudder in fear at the last </span><a href="http://blog.al.com/gulf-coast/2012/04/video_of_trashed_beaches_after.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Orange Crush</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> festival. </span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/dULuAOGhOEY" width="400"></iframe><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b> </span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is true that Outside Lands did make an effort to include a sustainable microvillage to educate participants of the festival and made an effort to incentivize the event to pick up after themselves that, in the end, was rather successful. Some may even say that it is the "<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jj-colagrande/san-francisco-makes-outsi_b_3758892.html">Best Music Festival in America.</a>" That being said, there were some issues that need to be addressed. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><h4><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. A sequestered “Eco-Area” does not make an environmental event. </span></h4></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Taking a look at the map of Outside Lands, you can see that, compared to the entire festival, the areas where participants could learn about their festival footprint were miniscule and concentrated. The groups discussing the issues need to be distributed out throughout the grounds to truly reach a wider audience. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2012.sfoutsidelands.com/festival/images/OL12_Map.jpg"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="308" src="http://2012.sfoutsidelands.com/festival/images/OL12_Map.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Map - If you click on the image above notice that there is a tiny “eco lands” area. While this is great and keeps in the theme of segregation of certain aesthetics like "chocolands" it would have made more sense to have different groups spread out more for a larger impact. </span></blockquote></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While it makes sense to thematically group together areas, if you want good distribution of information, why not make sure there is a booth in every area where people can learn more about pollution, their own impact and how to change their practices?</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You will also notice an area known as “wine lands.” This housed some great samples of wines and sakes from all over where festival goers could taste and drink wine at the event. The proximity of this tent was ultimately annoying for those attempting to fight the use of plastics and plastic containers. Those wishing to, could only get a wine or sake drink with a plastic cup that they had to buy from the desk. They could not use their own container or cup or even a compostable cup from one of the beer stations.</span><br /><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ul-Lx6tlsRs/UiU65FlbgkI/AAAAAAAAC20/lG2bb0nxdpE/s1600/IMAG0123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ul-Lx6tlsRs/UiU65FlbgkI/AAAAAAAAC20/lG2bb0nxdpE/s400/IMAG0123.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The beer stations also would not allow you to use a reusable container, only their “bioplastics” and, in most instances, a new cup for every drink. This was because the operators of those stations tracked how many drinks were served by how many cups were used. While “bioplastics” could be considered better than plastics, you have to remember they still take energy to produce and compost or recycle as the case may be. Imagine if every festival goer used their own reusable container for this event. The impact would drop dramatically. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am not going to go into it too deeply, but the festival also hosted Drakes Bay Oyster Farm products and a sign attempting to save <a href="http://www.thegreenprogressive.com/2012/12/point-reyes-oyster-farm.html">the dubious farm from returning to wilderness, a sticky issue with me</a>.</span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><h4><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. An incentive program should not be necessary, but if you are going to use it make it bigger.</span></h4></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was refreshing seeing volunteers not only picking up various pieces of rubbish including giant bags of cigarette butts. When I learned about the incentive aspect attached to it, I was equally impressed at the ingenuity of the staff and organizers of the event. As I looked to the larger crowd, however, I felt my heart sink at the realization of the reality of the nature of the beast. Not only were a large portion of the revelers leaving their trash and plastics strewn across Golden Gate Park, there were hoards who were almost violently littering. Examples of people throwing bottles into the air, stomping on bioplastic cups, and tossing items into the brush. This shameful example of humanity’s lack of respect for their surroundings was very upsetting, though not surprising. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If the organizers created this incentive program on the current level, why not go the next step. By having stations and booths across the event (as described above) where people could interact and learn different new knowledge about waste in the event and beyond you can turn the program beyond just a reward system to a scavenger hunt of knowledge. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Imagine that those participating in such a scavenger hunt had the opportunity of being recognized publicly for their efforts and, with the right celebrity buy-in, able to meet and chat it up with some of the acts. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is just an idea but such a larger scoped program will create better cooperation between groups, more incentive for alternative participation and even competitive jealousy with those who find themselves unaware or not interested in eco-awareness. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><h4><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Taking Outside Lands to the Next Level. </span></h4></div><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><div style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Music festivals can be about more than just about sex, drugs, rock and roll and food, they can be educational tools to a demographic where such outreach is sorely needed. If the anecdote above doesn't illustrate the need for an adjustment of focus and self awareness, here is one other observation. While entering into the park on my second day of volunteering I came across a small group of young adults (I use the term "adult" here very loosely) who were outside the entrance chugging down beers in large cans. </span></div><div style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of them, a girl in cowboy boots and a flannel shirt, drop-kicked her beer into the woods of Golden Gate Park. Unable to control myself I started walking towards the violently distributed litter to pick it up, saying a little too loudly "Are you [expletive deleted] kidding me?" </span></div><div style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of the men in the group hurriedly walked to the container to pick it up and stated, "Just go away, take your liberal ideals somewhere else."&nbsp;</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was taken aback at the statement. When did not being a slob become a liberal ideal? Can you only be a true red-blooded conservative American if you mindlessly kick your garbage all around you? </span></div><div style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Environmental organizations, celebrities who care about the environment and event organizers need to capitalize on the audience that they have in front of them. We all need to recognize that it will be very difficult to approach these attendees in the traditional means. While we may get about 1-5% of the attendees, we need a larger approach. </span></span><br /><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Combining a rewards program with public shaming of those who wantonly stomped on plastics or tossed them like the park was a landfill is a good start but the organizers need to remember that they have stages with celebrities that can be influential.</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Celebrity buy-in to conservation in these instances, reinforcing the need to clean up our acts especially at events like these, must be explored for the future of these festivals. Otherwise it will just be a large group of mindless drones unaware of the world around them, a smaller group looking for reimbursement for cleaning up and an even smaller group disgusted by the dregs. </span></span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>Andrew Kornblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17006069193232411653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110763491746806640.post-35991999687717645212013-08-09T01:56:00.000-07:002013-08-09T08:45:48.802-07:00Jumping the Shark Week Shark <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For those who are engrossed with the </span><a href="http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/shark-week" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Discovery channel</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=Shark+Week&amp;oq=Shark+Week&amp;aqs=chrome.0.69i57j0j5j0j69i60j69i61.3579j0&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8#bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&amp;ei=JaAEUt6IKIj4yQGbzYC4CA&amp;fp=f2edc075ffa36c3c&amp;q=Shark+Week&amp;sa=X&amp;tbm=nws&amp;ved=0CDsQqAI" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">pop culture</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23sharkweek&amp;src=typd" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Twitter</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjW3ndBBfj8" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Will Ferrel and John C, Riely movies</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">; Shark Week is an epic frenzy of attacks, blood filled oceans and sexy celebrities. For those in the Ocean conservation and science realms it is a jagged double edge sword. </span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On one side, for as well intentioned as the Discovery Channel may be, Shark Week presents a situation for the need for fact checking and correcting a lot of the misinformation out there. &nbsp;This year Shark Week began with an epic </span><a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57597324-93/shark-week-show-gets-panned-for-being-a-fake-documentary/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">movie about the Megalodon</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. This ancestor of the Great White Shark was a mighty and giant predator which gives fright to the bravest amongst us. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2013/08/06/discovery-channel-defends-it-decision-to-air-dramatized-megalodon/"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://a57.foxnews.com/global.fncstatic.com/static/managed/img/Entertainment/660/371/shark%20week%20image%20disovery%20660.JPG?ve=1" width="400" /></span></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The problem here is that the program presented the Megalodon as a contemporary of present day man when the actual animal has not been alive for million of years. At the end of the program a brief flash of an explanation of truth flashes across the screen. This truth, in hummingbird speed, explains that the creature has been extinct for some time. This outraged Ocean Scientists, </span><a href="http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/science-sushi/2013/08/05/shark-week-jumps-the-shark-an-open-letter-to-discovery-communications/#.UgSnMWR4bnY" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">internal parties</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and opened the door to justifiable criticism. </span><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-august-7-2013/sharks--lies--and-videotape" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Daily show pointed out the ridiculousness of the situation</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and even the current Nerd King (and always Wesley) </span><a href="http://wilwheaton.net/2013/08/discovery-channel-owes-its-viewers-an-apology/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wil Wheaton stated that Discovery owed an apology</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to its viewers. &nbsp;</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This situation brought to a head the question, does Shark Week <a href="http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/2013/08/05/film-fakery-shark-week/">help the Shark Conservation Conversation or hinder it?</a></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On the other side, Shark Week brings the numbers. Streams throughout the internet are abuzz with activity around Sharks and the ocean like no other time of the year. Millions across the globe are glued to their televisions brought by fear, bemusement or morbid curiosity. This is an audience that can easily be led to actually learning about Sharks and the peril the Ocean is in.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is such a landing point that non-profits, such as Upwell have even begun to teach virtual classes on how to</span><a href="http://www.upwell.us/sharkweek-sharkinar" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> maximize on the impact of Shark Week through “Sharkinars.”</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Upwell also provides <a href="http://us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=c880da0c24096213459a64f11&amp;id=edeaaca660">tide reports</a> that highlight different spreadable and actionable activities. One shark scientist, most easily found by the Twitter handle </span><a href="https://twitter.com/WhySharksMatter" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">@WhySharksMattter</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, has exploded on twitter for laying down shark truths throughout Shark Week. He is even getting his own </span><a href="http://www.geekosystem.com/shark-david-shiffman/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Ask Me Anything” session through the popular internet forum Reddit</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> right now (well, 12:00PM EST 8/9/13). </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZdrTtguFZ48/UgStpH-T5WI/AAAAAAAACaQ/dmR_sCBWHvs/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-08-09+at+1.51.14+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="100" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZdrTtguFZ48/UgStpH-T5WI/AAAAAAAACaQ/dmR_sCBWHvs/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-08-09+at+1.51.14+AM.png" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The point that I would love for all non-profits to realize is that Shark Week is a unifier. During this week, it is relatively easy to join into a massive, global, cross-platform discussion that is instantly engaging to a mass audience. It is a period of time where, for a brief moment, divergent and usually competing non-profits are all participating and adding to the conversation. The lesson we, as those who work in advocacy and non-profits, need to learn is that Shark Week is an amazing example of cooperation and collaboration. It even gives the chance to share a well used</span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/27/sharks-killed-per-hour-infographic_n_2965775.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> infographic showing the gravity of the situation</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. As much as it may</span><a href="http://infieldfly1023.wordpress.com/2013/08/05/shark-week-stop-acting-like-you-care/comment-page-1/#comment-24" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> frustrate some</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, it is important to remember that it is bringing new people to the table. Those new people are important. </span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We can create other opportunities to work with both likely and unlikely partners to amplify the message of all those involved. Things like "Sharktober" or "World Oceans day" can turn into huge campaigns if the right collaboration and programming were made. Getting a <a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/movies/index.ssf/2013/08/shark_week_2013_review_spawn_o.html">popular, attractive celebrity</a> wouldn’t hurt either, but who is counting. </span></div><span style="color: white;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-6a16c22a-6240-fdb9-edf6-3a9df550673d"></span><br /></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Happy Shark Week and remember two things; 1. When something brings a new player to the conversation, educate and hope they can be brought on as a partner. 2. By working together, our message amplifies. </span></div>Andrew Kornblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17006069193232411653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110763491746806640.post-7120660702640234352013-05-25T15:20:00.000-07:002013-05-25T18:29:27.799-07:00Another view on another view of FrackingWhile visiting the Sacramento area, I took a break and read the Sacramento Bee. in it was a rather interesting Op-Ed piece by a Mr. Dave Quast, of <a href="http://www.energyindepth.org/">Energy in Depth,</a> which I felt I had to address. In it he basically attacks the Center for Biological Diversity and draws strange conclusions about Fracking, a controversial gas extraction process with national (and international) issues. You can <a href="http://www.sacbee.com/2013/05/25/5447090/op-ed-feeds-hysteria-over-fracking.html#disqus_thread">see the editorial here</a>, and check out <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/davequast">Mr. Quast's LinkedIn page here</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/water/fracking/"><img border="0" src="http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/IMG00373-20121009-1255-300x225.jpg" /></a></div><br />Here is my now, open letter to the editor of the Sacramento Bee;<br /><br /><b id="docs-internal-guid-4947a027-dd68-095b-1013-0b0c442ed175" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-4947a027-dd68-095b-1013-0b0c442ed175" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In your May 25th issue on the opinion page, there appeared an interesting editorial from Dave Quast, the California director of Energy in Depth, an organization founded from financial commitments from organizations such as Shell, BP, Chevron and other petroleum leaders. The reason I found it interesting is that it appeared like a 4 year old time capsule was opened in the conversation of fracking. </span></b></div><b id="docs-internal-guid-4947a027-dd68-095b-1013-0b0c442ed175" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-4947a027-dd68-095b-1013-0b0c442ed175" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the Op-Ed he hyper focuses on the Center for Biological Diversity, one of thousands of organizations nationwide who wants the nation to move beyond oil and fracking. Quast seems especially fixated on a 2009 interview with the organization’s then executive director. Quast takes issue with the fact that the CBD is interested in hiring “philosophers, linguists and poets” to help spread the environmental message. He seems to draw the conclusion that this means that environmentalists are not interested in the science. This is a false conclusion. </span></b></div><b id="docs-internal-guid-4947a027-dd68-095b-1013-0b0c442ed175" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-4947a027-dd68-095b-1013-0b0c442ed175" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The environmental movement, including the fields of conservation, climatology and anything having to do with saving the natural world around us from the destruction we create as a species is all about science and data. Unfortunately, that is the problem. As Kieran Suckling of the CBD mentions in the <a href="http://www.hcn.org/issues/41.22/firebrand-ways">same interview Quast is referencing</a>, “I think the professionalization of the environmental movement has injured it greatly. These kids get degrees in environmental conservation and wildlife management and come looking for jobs in the environmental movement.”</span></b></div><b id="docs-internal-guid-4947a027-dd68-095b-1013-0b0c442ed175" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-4947a027-dd68-095b-1013-0b0c442ed175" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is unfortunately true that the same people that can analyze the data and write the studies surrounding conservation and the environmental impacts are not always the best people at spreading the message and showing the impact of what those ramifications are. As one who works in the field of conservation outreach, there is a huge difference between being able to truly understand the data or the scientific jargon and being able to explain it well to others. Most people in their day-to-day lives don’t have time or background to look at a data set and realize that we need to change our practices. Sometimes it takes an alternative and non-science background perspective to be able to shape and format the conversation in a way that people can easily understand and identify with it. &nbsp;</span></b></div><b id="docs-internal-guid-4947a027-dd68-095b-1013-0b0c442ed175" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is astoundingly ironic that Quast himself doesn’t mention this since (if you take a look at his LinkedIn Profile) he actually comes from a “liberal arts” background of journalism and not science. </span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What I found most interesting about Quast’s editorial was the fact that the only actual report he mentions is out-dated material stemming from 2009. &nbsp;The truth of the matter is that there are many studies that have come out since then from both sides of the coin, funded by many different groups. Since 2009 there has been a torrent of studies on the effects of Fracking. Berkeley Law’s Center for Law, Energy &amp; the Environment (CLEE) published one as recently as this last April. Where are those references in Quast’s editorial? It seems that he, like most in the Petroleum and Gas industries, are stuck in the past. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The long and the short of it is that we, as a nation and as a species, need to rethink our relationship with energy. Our society is addicted to oil. The burning of hydrocarbons has powered our nation from westward expansion to the modern era. Like most addicts, when the supply runs low, we look for ways to get that one last hit before moving to the next source. </span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What is going to happen when there is nothing more to frack? Are we going to invent a way to convert our dead into petrified liquids to burn off our hydrocarbons? It is time to truly adapt and evolve beyond burning hydrocarbons for energy. It is time to abandon Shell, Chevron, BP and Energy in Depth as relics of a pollutant-heavy era.</span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">As Bill McKibben, the founder of 350.org mentioned, "We need a dramatic shift off carbon-based fuel: coal, oil and also gas."<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></b>Andrew Kornblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17006069193232411653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110763491746806640.post-79376906763794712852013-03-28T11:22:00.002-07:002013-03-28T12:00:33.108-07:00Red Equality Revolution (On Social Media)A tidal wave has hit in the in the national conversation of homosexual marriage and its true impact would not have been shown without social media. The past two days have shown the issue's "day in court" with a hearing on California's <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/on-the-second-day-supreme-court-considers-doma/2013/03/26/331bb5ae-966e-11e2-9e23-09dce87f75a1_story.html">Proposition 8</a> and the <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/on-the-second-day-supreme-court-considers-doma/2013/03/26/331bb5ae-966e-11e2-9e23-09dce87f75a1_story.html">Federal Defense of Marriage Act (or DOMA)</a>.<br /><br />The discussion has run the gambit from the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/alito-gay-marriage-cell-phones-internet-supreme-court-prop-8-oral-arguments-2013-3">absurd</a> to the illogical to the passionate to the spot on points. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/27/sonia-sotomayor-gay-marriage_n_2965105.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009">Sotomayor poked</a> at the concept that Homosexuals were being unfairly treated in the domain of marriage as a class and<a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2013/03/elena-kagans-doma-gotcha-moment-89383.html"> Kagan has a nice "gotcha" moment</a>. Most of the court seemed to question whether Prop 8 had standing to be in the Supreme Court at all and on the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/27/supreme-court-doma_n_2952611.html">legality of DOMA</a>.<br /><br />&nbsp;(By the way, the reason I call Alito's comment that Homosexual Marriage is "newer than Cellphones and the internet" absurd can be found in this beautiful moment on an episode of the Golden Girls which went from 85 to 92.)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp; <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2xxpd3Ye0zA" width="420"></iframe>&nbsp;</div><br /><br />In satire, <a href="http://www.theonion.com/articles/supreme-court-on-gay-marriage-sure-who-cares,31812/">the Onion published</a> an article that those in support of equality wished was true and of course <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/03/28/1197542/-Jon-Stewart-looks-at-historic-gay-marriage-shift-but-not-among-Republicans#">Jon Stewart presented</a> the situation beautifully as always. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: black; width: 520px;"><div style="padding: 4px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="288" src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/embed/mgid:cms:video:thedailyshow.com:424800" width="512"></iframe></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 4px; padding: 4px; text-align: left;"><b><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-march-27-2013/swing-of-the-hill">The Daily Show with Jon Stewart</a></b><br />Get More: <a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/">Daily Show Full Episodes</a>,<a href="http://www.comedycentral.com/indecision">Indecision Political Humor</a>,<a href="http://www.facebook.com/thedailyshow">The Daily Show on Facebook</a></div></div></div><br />I have <a href="http://www.thegreenprogressive.com/2013/02/the-gay-block.html">covered this issue</a>&nbsp;of marriage equality&nbsp;a few <a href="http://www.thegreenprogressive.com/2006/02/i-am-gray-rage.html">times in the past</a> because, as a progressive human being, a system of classes where one class is denied rights by other classes is disgusting to me. Now feels like a special time in that conversation.<br /><br />&nbsp;The greatest thing for me, as a social media guy and a political guy and a political organizer, has been the Equality Symbol Meme. You have seen it. It is the red equals sign people have been using as profile pictures, you may have <a href="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/483708_568809446485839_1083510655_n.png">found it disorienting</a>. This brilliant campaign was started by the <a href="http://www.hrc.org/">Human Rights Campaign</a>, an organization attempting to promote equality for gays and lesbians. What first started as a few Facebook friends changing their profile pictures to the standard red equals sign quickly morphed and flowed into <a href="http://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/slideshow-hrc-logo-memes">a beautiful mosaic of hundreds of different versions</a> of the symbol. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/humanrightscampaign/sets/72157633101425657/"><img border="0" height="282" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ofkfgehv7tg/UVSGA7wKrxI/AAAAAAAABrI/2rPnHG-kV-A/s320/Screen+Shot+2013-03-28+at+11.01.42+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />My cousin's friend actually made this one which I like to call "<a href="http://i.imgur.com/AfA33h7.jpg">Unleavened Equality</a>."<br /><br />This campaign that has swept the internet, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/human-rights-campaign-red-logo-goes-viral/2013/03/27/5a41f927-a133-4dde-9e7d-ea68fa3349de_video.html">gone viral and has caught the attention</a> of various news agencies and has been<a href="http://www.abc6onyourside.com/shared/news/features/top-stories/stories/wsyx_human-rights-campaign-logo-adopted-thousands-22969.shtml"> adopted by almost everyone</a>&nbsp;you can think of. The brilliant stroke here is that it is a great way to show support with an amazingly low threshold of adoption (how easy it is for the average person to get involved). It is insanely easy to set your profile picture to a red equals sign, for a short period of time to say to your friends, "this is important to me." This symbol of equality has been adopted by<a href="http://news.yahoo.com/gay-marriage-equality-box-spreads-social-media-185401100.html"> tons of celebrities and entertainment entities</a>, organizations such as the <a href="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/483277_10151384181247572_1789898954_n.jpg">Sierra Club</a>&nbsp;and the attention of <a href="http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/03/27/12-parodies-of-the-human-rights-campaigns-red-equal-sign/">Time Magazine</a>.<br /><br />This social media "<a href="http://%E2%80%9Cfor%20those%20friends%20wondering%2C%20this%20special%20%E2%80%98red%E2%80%99%20equality%20symbol%20signifies%20that%20marriage%20equality%20really%20is%20all%20about%20love.%20thanks%20to%20the%20human%20rights%20campaign%20for%20this%20effort.%20please%20consider%20changing%20your%20profile%20today%20in%20support%20%E2%80%94%20esp%20if%20you%20are%20a%20straight%20ally.%E2%80%9D/">Sea of Red</a>" for equality has been pushed by the passion of those supporting it. As <a href="https://www.facebook.com/georgehtakei/posts/633371546692302">George Takei</a> put it;<br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px;">“For those friends wondering, this special ‘red’ equality symbol signifies that marriage equality really is all about love. Thanks to the Human Rights Campaign for this effort. Please consider changing your profile today in support — esp if you are a straight ally.”</span></blockquote><br />&nbsp;Ignoring the arguments that yes, not everyone is on social media (though <a href="http://www.socialbakers.com/facebook-statistics/">about HALF of the US population is</a>) and true, <a href="http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/psysociety/2013/03/28/marriage-equality-and-social-proof/">Facebook may or may not make an effect on the judgement</a> of the courts, it is still reassuring to see your network show solidarity. It comes to a point in the&nbsp;arguments&nbsp;made to the court. We are at a point in time where the national discourse on the issue shows, according to various studies, that <a href="http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/26/how-opinion-on-same-sex-marriage-is-changing-and-what-it-means/">more than half of the country</a>, wants equality for all.<br /><br />&nbsp;This time also showed<a href="http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/borowitzreport/2013/03/scalia-says-marriage-views-not-affected-by-lifelong-fear-of-gays.html"> how horrifically scary one justice's beliefs were in general</a>. Someone explain to me how you can talk about finding something "Fearful" and loathsome and consider yourself "unbiased?"<br /><br />Will this campaign affect the decision? Probably not. While Judicial proceedings do chat about the public discourse on what they are hearing, I doubt that they are paying attention to Facebook memes. It does make you feel like you are in good company when the majority of your "friends" and the pages you follow show support and solidarity to a class of people not receiving the same rights as others.<br /><br />One last note, is it just me or is <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/gay-marriage-equality-box-spreads-social-media-185401100.html">Edie Windsor, the plaintiff in the DOMA case the most adorable lady ever</a>?Andrew Kornblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17006069193232411653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110763491746806640.post-45678698472999739482013-02-26T12:32:00.001-08:002013-02-26T12:37:50.181-08:00Republicans and The Gay BlockRight now there is a document that is being circulated to be sent to the Supreme Court. It is a legal briefing asserting the constitutional right to equality for marriages between same sex partners. The action is for the upcoming hearings on&nbsp;<a href="http://www.towleroad.com/2013/02/prop8briefs.html">California's Prop 8</a>&nbsp;which as you may recall, defined marriage in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Proposition_8">California as solely between a man and a woman</a>. The surprising or "<u>inconceivable</u>" element here is that it is being supported and pushed by<a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2013/02/26/gop_amicus_brief_on_gay_marriage_jon_huntsman_meg_whitman_among_dozens_of.html"> many prominent Republicans</a>.<br /><br />Republicans, if you will recall, had <a href="http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2012/08/rnc-2012-romney-pledges-to-honor-the-institution-of-marriage/">as a party previously asserted the need to protect traditional marriage</a> for a number of reasons. In fact, many of those who have signed onto this briefing have seemingly completely reversed their position on the subject.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://jezebel.com/5986985/dozens-of-republicans-sign-brief-in-support-of-gay-marriage"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18fuckvj04by9jpg/original.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />This new-found belief in equality may be a coming of these individuals to&nbsp;conscious. With the upcoming CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) coming up, this may be a <a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/national-party-news/284883-cpac-as-sister-souljah-honors-ted-cruz-insults-chris-christie">breaking away of a moderate conservancy out of the radical right</a> we have been seeing as of late into a new and more <a href="http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/26/republicans-against-proposition-8/">evolved party</a> or, it could be a largely political motivated move.<br /><br />The truth of the mater is that the Republicans lost the most recent Presidential election as a direct result of a few key voting blocks and issues. Social issues that conservatives traditionally oppose, such as&nbsp;<a href="http://news.yahoo.com/gay-marriage-marijuana-backed-historic-votes-092551943--politics.html">Marijuana legalization and Homosexual Marriage</a>&nbsp;won big and had huge <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/07/politics/pol-same-sex-marriage">National support</a>. Supporting the rights for gays to marry may represent a continuing trend of the Republican party to back-peddle from the platform of the Romney election and seek out ways of attracting blocks that such as the&nbsp;<a href="http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2013/02/11/house-republicans-launch-sweeping-latino-outreach-campaign/">Latino communities</a>&nbsp;(though some may argue they are <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/20/opinion/sunday/the-attack-on-women-is-real.html">still bumbling with the women's issues</a>).<br /><br />The Gay community was, in fact, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/16/us/politics/gay-vote-seen-as-crucial-in-obamas-victory.html?_r=0">a critical block for the Obama win</a>. Apparently&nbsp;Republicans in Congress have stated “behind closed doors” that supporting marriage equality is the future of the party but it "wasn't the time" to publicly go there. Apparently &nbsp;there are those in the party that have started to think the benefit of gaining support from that community by promoting equality outweighs the cost of loosing those staunchly against it but on a Party-Wide platform, they are still<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/feb/19/cpac-2013-excludes-gay-republicans"> the Black Sheep</a>.&nbsp;<br /><br />This issue is something I have <a href="http://www.thegreenprogressive.com/2010/12/thoughts-on-9th-circuit-appeals-court.html">written</a> <a href="http://www.thegreenprogressive.com/2012/08/the-2012-rnc-our-fears-are-realized.html">about </a><a href="http://www.thegreenprogressive.com/2006/02/i-am-gray-rage.html">a lot</a> and it is just interesting to see if this becomes an accepted issue. Hope that Climate Change and Eco-Sense is next on the same path towards total American acceptance.<br /><br /><br />Andrew Kornblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17006069193232411653noreply@blogger.com0